New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) In a significant development, following the withdrawal of the Congress candidate Akash More from the Baramati by-election, Sunil Tatkare, the President of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), conveyed his gratitude for this action, characterizing it as a display of “political generosity.”

In statements to the press, Tatkare expressed enthusiasm about the outcome, indicating that this decision facilitates a more organized electoral process.

He extended his thanks to the Congress leadership, praising their “wisdom and maturity” in navigating the current political landscape.

Tatkare reminisced about Ajit Pawar’s historical ties with the Congress party, emphasizing their collaborative efforts in the past.

“Ajit Pawar was elected on a Congress ticket in both 1991 and 1992. From 1999 to 2014, during the Democratic Front government's tenure, he held positions as Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in partnership with Congress. We appreciate their recent decision and express our gratitude on behalf of the Baramati constituency,” he remarked.

Elaborating on the negotiations, Tatkare revealed that NCP leadership had engaged with top Congress officials to facilitate the withdrawal.

He confirmed that both he and senior leader Praful Patel had reached out to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss this matter.

Referencing historical elections, Tatkare drew a comparison to the Nashik by-elections, often described as “Sahyadri coming to the aid of the Himalayas,” although he noted that such historical contexts have evolved.

In response to criticism from Congress State President Harshvardhan Sapkal regarding NCP’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tatkare stood his ground.

“We are a member of the National Democratic Alliance, and we maintain a clear and open stance. While Sapkal’s political acumen is vast, I too have deep roots in Congress and have worked extensively within that structure. Today, my primary focus is to express appreciation for their collaboration,” he concluded.

Earlier, Sapkal officially declared his withdrawal from the Baramati Assembly by-election.

In his address to the media, Sapkal justified the initial decision to contest, made on March 15, as a strategic ideological stance against the BJP. However, a series of heartfelt appeals from various political factions prompted a reconsideration of this stance.

“Ajit Pawar was a towering figure in Maharashtra, and his untimely passing has created a profound void in the state's political fabric,” remarked Sapkal.

“While we maintain ideological opposition to the BJP, we cannot overlook the cultural and emotional traditions of Maharashtra,” he added.

“Given Ajit Dada’s long-standing relationship with Congress and the emotional requests from his family and colleagues, we are retracting our candidate, Akash More,” he concluded.