NCP chief Sunetra Pawar set to script record Baramati bypoll win, leads by over 70k votes

PUNE: Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar is set to script a record victory in the Baramati bypoll, likely surpassing benchmarks set by both her husband Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar’s 2019 win by a margin of 1.65 lakh votes remains the highest victory margin in Maharashtra assembly elections, while Sharad Pawar’s 75% vote share for a winning candidate in 1990 is the highest ever recorded in the Baramati constituency. Even as Ajit Pawar won Baramati seat for seven consecutive terms, he could not cross the 75% vote share benchmark set by his uncle.

Early trends suggest NCP Chief Sunetra Pawar could challenge both records. As per the latest update at the end of the eighth round of counting, she is leading by 70,369 votes, with her nearest rival, a candidate from New Rashtriya Samaj Party, is trailing far behind at 273 votes, only marginally above NOTA (211).

Counting of votes polled on April 23 for Baramati bypoll is being conducted in 24 rounds, and over 2.23 lakh votes will be counted. As per reports, nationally, the record for the highest victory margin in an assembly election stands at 2.14 lakh votes, set by a BJP candidate from Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh Sunil Kumar Sharma in 2022. “Sunetra Tai will break the national record today by securing more than 2.14 lakh votes” Sandip Bandal, the president of NCP’s Baramati unit said.

Meanwhile, Sunetra in a social media post has appealed supporters to nor organise victory rallies no celebration should be organised.