In a major political development in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Sunetra Pawar is set to file her nomination on April 6 for the crucial Baramati assembly by-election in Pune district.

The bypoll, scheduled for April 23, has gained significant attention following the tragic death of her husband, senior leader Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash earlier this year. His sudden demise left the prestigious Baramati seat vacant, triggering a high-stakes political contest.

Party sources confirmed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are expected to be present during the nomination filing, which will follow a large public rally in Baramati, indicating the importance of the election for the ruling alliance.

Baramati has long been considered a stronghold of the Pawar family. Ajit Pawar, an eight-time MLA from the constituency, had dominated the seat for years. In the 2019 assembly elections, he registered a massive victory margin of over 1.65 lakh votes, and in 2024, he retained the seat with a margin exceeding one lakh votes, defeating his nephew Yugendra Pawar.

The upcoming bypoll is expected to test the political legacy of the Pawar family. While the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party has decided not to contest the election, its ally Congress has indicated that it will not allow the contest to go unchallenged, setting the stage for a competitive fight.

Sunetra Pawar, who is currently a Rajya Sabha MP, was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on January 31 following the tragic incident. She was later unanimously elected as the president of the NCP on February 26, consolidating her leadership within the party.

Apart from Baramati, another bypoll will be held in the Rahuri assembly seat in Ahilyanagar district on the same day, following the death of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile.