Sunetra Pawar reaches out to Uddhav Thackeray for support in Baramati bypoll

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has initiated outreach efforts ahead of the upcoming Baramati assembly bypoll contacting Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to seek his partyrsquos support The conversation which took place on Friday is being viewed as a significant political development in the runup to the crucial election reported PTIThe Baramati bypoll is scheduled to be held on April 23 with Sunetra Pawar set to contest as the official candidate of the Nationalist Congress PartyShiv Sena UBT leaders confirm discussionThe outreach was confirmed by senior Shiv Sena UBT leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and party secretary Milind Narvekar According to Raut the discussion between Pawar and Thackeray focused specifically on the bypoll and the possibility of electoral support reported PTIHe also indicated that Thackeray is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the partyrsquos stance at a press conference in the coming days keeping political observers on watch for a potential shift in alliances reported PTISympathy factor and family ties may influence decisionSources suggest that Thackeray may not be opposed to backing Sunetra Pawar citing longstanding personal and political ties with the Pawar family The bypoll has been necessitated following the death of Ajit Pawar who represented Baramati and was a prominent political figure in the state reported PTIAjit Pawarrsquos passing in a plane crash earlier this year has created a sympathy factor that could play a role in shaping electoral dynamics Sunetra Pawar who assumed office as Deputy Chief Minister shortly after the incident is now seeking to consolidate support across party linesOpposition alliance dynamics face new testThe development comes at a time when the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVAmdashcomprising Shiv Sena UBT Congress and the Sharad Pawarled faction of the NCPmdashis already navigating internal differencesWhile the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar faction has indicated it will not field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar the Congress has taken a divergent position Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal recently announced that the party intends to contest the bypoll stating that approval has been received from the central leadershipThis divergence has added complexity to the oppositionrsquos strategy in the state raising questions about coordination within the allianceNomination filing and electoral history of BaramatiSunetra Pawar is expected to file her nomination papers on April 6 formally entering the race The Baramati constituency has long been a stronghold of the Pawar family with Ajit Pawar winning the seat multiple times with significant marginsIn previous assembly elections he secured victories by large vote differences reinforcing the constituencyrsquos importance in Maharashtrarsquos political landscape The upcoming bypoll is likely to be closely watched not only for its electoral outcome but also for the broader political signals it may send regarding alliances and leadership equations in the stateWith inputs from PTI