How Congress gained political capital by withdrawing Baramati bypoll candidate

In a significant political development, Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal announced the withdrawal of candidate Akash More from the Baramati assembly by-election, a move framed as a mark of respect following the tragic and accidental demise of veteran leader Ajit Pawar.

The decision marks a notable shift in stance for the Congress. Sapkal had earlier criticised the Election Commission as a “B-team” of the BJP. However, the party recalibrated its position after high-level appeals from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Senior NCP leaders, including Sunetra Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, personally reached out to Congress, urging cooperation to ensure a respectful political transition.

The withdrawal followed a series of strategic consultations. A key meeting took place between Sunetra Pawar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Additionally, Rohit Pawar met with the Congress leadership to formally apologise for what he termed “immature” remarks made earlier by Parth Pawar regarding the decline of the Congress party. This apology helped create conditions for Congress to exit the contest not as a defeated entity, but as a “magnanimous elder” upholding Maharashtra’s political culture and civility.

By stepping down, Congress appears to have gained significant political mileage. The party repositioned itself as a custodian of “political harmony” while also extracting a public apology from its rival camp. Supriya Sule reinforced this narrative, stating that the bond between her family and Congress is rooted in decades of trust, extending beyond ideological alignment.

Meanwhile, Jay Pawar expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying that an unopposed election would be the truest tribute to his father’s legacy of cross-party development. Although 23 independent candidates remain in the fray, the NCP is continuing efforts to persuade them to withdraw.

Through this tactical retreat, Congress has strengthened alliance dynamics while maintaining a high moral ground ahead of future electoral battles.

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