Baramati bypoll: Sunetra Pawar casts vote, urges participation; 6–8% polling in first two hours in Baramati, Rahuri

Polling for by-elections to the Baramati and Rahuri Assembly seats in Maharashtra began at 7 a.m. on Thursday, with voter turnout reaching 8% in Baramati and 6% in Rahuri within the first two hours, according to election officials. Voting will continue until 6 p.m.

The Baramati bypoll was necessitated by the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. His wife, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, is the frontrunner among 23 candidates and is contesting amid what is widely seen as a one-sided contest. Earlier in the day, she paid homage to her late husband at Vidya Pratishthan in Katewadi before casting her vote.

In a significant political development, no major opposition party, including factions of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar and the Congress, fielded candidates against Sunetra Pawar. This has further strengthened her position, with only smaller parties and independent candidates remaining in the fray.

Meanwhile, the Rahuri seat fell vacant following the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile in October last year. His son Akshay Kardile is contesting from the seat against NCP (SP) candidate Govind Mokate and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi's Santosh Chalke.

Sunetra Pawar, along with family members including Srinivas Pawar and Sharmila Pawar, cast their votes early in the day. She has appealed to voters to support her as a tribute to her late husband, with the Baramati constituency—long considered a stronghold of the Pawar family—having around 3.84 lakh registered voters.

Election authorities said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth polling, including shaded areas and water facilities at booths to help voters cope with the heat.

The 288-member Maharashtra Assembly currently has 235 seats held by the ruling Mahayuti alliance and 50 by the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The results of these key bypolls will be declared on May 4, 2026.