Sunetra Pawar leads Baramati bypoll count with 44,796 votes in early trends
Synopsis
Sunetra Pawar was leading with 44,796 votes in early trends in the Baramati Assembly bypoll on 4 May — a contest that was always more than electoral. Contesting from the seat vacated by her late husband Ajit Pawar's death, she is on course to convert personal grief and political legacy into a fresh mandate, with major opposition parties having stepped aside.
Key Takeaways
Sunetra Pawar led with 44,796 votes in early trends at 11 am IST on 4 May , per ECI data.
The Baramati Assembly seat fell vacant after Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on 28 January .
The bypoll was held on 9 April and 23 April as part of multi-state by-elections across Gujarat , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Nagaland , and Tripura .
A total of 23 candidates were in the fray; withdrawal of major opposition parties made Sunetra Pawar the clear frontrunner.
The constituency has 3.84 lakh registered voters and is considered a Pawar family stronghold.
Sunetra Pawar appealed to supporters to avoid processions or throwing gulal, urging restraint in keeping with her late husband's ideals.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar was leading with 44,796 votes in early trends as counting got underway for the Baramati Assembly by-election on Monday, 4 May, according to Election Commission of India (ECI) data at 11 am IST. The high-profile bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA Ajit Pawar, who passed away in a plane crash on 28 January.
Sunetra Pawar's Early Lead
Sunetra Pawar has maintained dominance since the first round of counting, leading in a field of 23 candidates. The withdrawal of major opposition parties ahead of polling has positioned her as the clear frontrunner to carry forward the Pawar family legacy in the state Assembly. The Baramati constituency in Pune district has 3.84 lakh registered voters and is widely regarded as a stronghold of the influential Pawar family.
What Sunetra Pawar Said
Taking to X, Sunetra Pawar dedicated the early result to the memory of her late husband.
Point of View
Legacy, and the absence of credible opposition. The more consequential question is what Sunetra Pawar does with the mandate: she enters the Assembly not as a political veteran but as a figure whose authority is inherited rather than independently built. Her appeal for restraint is politically astute, but the real test will be whether she can govern Baramati in her own right or remain defined by Ajit Pawar's shadow. The NCP's hold on this seat was never seriously challenged here, but the family's broader influence in Maharashtra's shifting coalition politics remains under pressure.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Baramati Assembly by-election held?
The Baramati Assembly seat fell vacant after sitting MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on 28 January. A by-election was subsequently scheduled as part of multi-state bypolls held on 9 April and 23 April 2025.
Who is Sunetra Pawar and why is she contesting from Baramati?
Sunetra Pawar is an NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. She is contesting the Baramati bypoll as the NCP candidate following the death of her husband, late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who previously held the seat.
How many votes was Sunetra Pawar leading by in early trends?
According to ECI data at 11 am IST on 4 May, Sunetra Pawar was leading with 44,796 votes in the early counting trends for the Baramati Assembly bypoll.
Did major opposition parties contest the Baramati bypoll?
Major opposition parties withdrew from the Baramati bypoll, leaving Sunetra Pawar as the clear frontrunner in a field of 23 candidates. The withdrawal significantly reduced competitive pressure on the NCP candidate.
What did Sunetra Pawar say about the early results?
Sunetra Pawar dedicated the early lead to the memory of her late husband Ajit Pawar, referred to as 'Ajit Dada'. She appealed to supporters not to take out processions or throw gulal, and declared, 'This is not the end; this is just the beginning.'
