PUNE: The Congress has withdrawn its candidate from the Baramati by-election, just hours before the deadline for withdrawal of nominations on Thursday.There will be no unopposed election for NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar, as 22 independent candidates remain in the fray even after the 3pm deadline for withdrawal passed.The development follows an “advisory” from NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who urged the Congress to withdraw from the race and back NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar.“Maharashtra lost a talented politician like Ajit Pawar. The Baramati seat got vacant due to an accident. Against that backdrop, my advice to the Congress party would be not to contest the seat. Congress is a national party and we can at the most suggest to them. Ultimately, the decision has to be taken by that party,” Pawar said.In the hours leading up to the deadline, NCP (SP) leaders intensified outreach efforts. MLA Rohit Pawar, nephew of Ajit Pawar, met state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal in Mumbai, urging him to withdraw the party’s candidate from Baramati.Sunetra Pawar also personally contacted Sapkal, requesting that the Congress step aside in her favour.
