Trying for unopposed bypolls in Baramati & Rahuri, but ready to contest: Fadnavis

Nashik: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said BJP was working on ways to ensure that by-elections of Baramati and Rahuri assembly seats were held unopposed."I believe elections should be held unopposed in both the seats. We will try to have a consensus among all (parties) in favour of a candidate. But if elections are forced upon us, we are ready to contest," said Fadnavis, after attending the 39th convocation of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth at Rahuri in Ahilyanagar in the morning.Later in the afternoon, the Election Commission of India announced bypolls for Baramati and Rahuri assembly seats on April 23. The Baramati assembly seat is vacant after the death of former deputy chief minister and NCP MLA Ajit Pawar on Jan 28. Rahuri's BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile passed away on Oct 17 last year.Baramati was Ajit Pawar's traditional seat. He won with record margins eight consecutive times there. The 2024 assembly polls witnessed a Pawar versus Pawar fight, where Ajit Pawar was challenged by his nephew Yugendra.The elections were held against the backdrop of a split in the Pawar family and NCP. Ajit Pawar defeated Yugendra by over one lakh votes and avenged his wife Sunetra Pawar's defeat in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat.Now, Sunetra has been appointed deputy chief minister and she will be NCP's candidate for the Baramati assembly bypoll. She will most likely be elected unopposed because NCP (SP) working president Supriya announced that her party would not be fielding any candidates for the seat. Considering strong sentiments, other parties are also least likely to field any candidates for the Baramati seat.The Rahuri seat, on the other hand, has witnessed a battle between Kardile family and Tanpure family from NCP. Kardile had won the seat in 2009 and 2014, but missed the hattrick in 2019 assembly polls. He was defeated by then undivided NCP candidate Prajakt Tanpure. Kardile managed to avenge his defeat when he won the seat against Tanpure in 2024.According to BJP sources from Ahilyanagar, they expect the by-election to be held unopposed in Rahuri. The party is yet to name the candidate, though.‘Mayor not at fault'CM Fadnavis downplayed the allegation against Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde over travelling in an official car with beacon. Fadnavis said, "There was no beacon on the car. There was a red light on the bonnet of the car. The mayor is well aware of the norm. I believe she is being targeted unnecessarily."