The rift within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Maharashtra’s Opposition alliance, was exposed again on Saturday (April 4, 2026), as the Congress broke with its partners in declaring that it would contest the upcoming bypoll for the Baramati Assembly seat.
The seat fell vacant after the death of Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January. His widow and successor Sunetra Pawar is the ruling alliance’s candidate for the seat. On Friday evening (April 3, 2026), Ms. Pawar called Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to seek his support for the election and sources from the Opposition party told The Hindu it was likely to support her candidature. The third major MVA partner, the NCP faction headed by Sharad Pawar, has already said it will not field a candidate to oppose Ms. Pawar.
Sunetra Pawar to file nomination on April 6, contest won’t be unopposed in Baramati
State’s political culture
The Hindu had been the first to report the news of Ms. Pawar’s call to Mr. Thackeray on Saturday (April 4, 2026) morning. By evening, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut officially confirmed that the call had taken place, adding that Mr. Thackeray would hold a press conference soon to announce the party’s decision on Ms. Pawar’s request. “Sunetra vahini called Uddhav saaheb at around 5 p.m. on Friday (April 3, 2026). The Baramati bypoll is an emotional issue. Uddhav saaheb has said in the past as well that Ajit Pawar was his close associate. They had worked in the government together,” a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader told The Hindu, indicating that Mr. Thackeray is leaning towards supporting Ms. Pawar.
