Mumbai: Bypoll to the Baramati assembly seat in Maharashtra, where deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar was in the fray, recorded a voter turnout of around 52.44% till 5 pm on Thursday. The voting percentage in Rahuri assembly constituency where BJP's Akshay Kardile is in the fray, also saw a bypoll, and saw a turnout of 50.68%.
Bypolls in Baramati and Rahuri assembly constituencies were necessitated after the death of NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Shivaji Kardile, respectively.
Sunetra's election is widely seen as a formality, as major Opposition parties have not fielded candidates against her. However, her youngest son, Jay Pawar, drew attention after staking a claim for the Baramati assembly seat in the 2029 elections.
"People want me to contest the 2029 assembly elections; however, I want to work as a party functionary. It may be the people's wish, but I am not too keen," Jay Pawar said.
His remarks have sparked speculation about a potential contest within the Pawar family, as Yugendra Pawar - grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar from the NCP(SP) faction - who had contested against Ajit in the 2024 assembly polls, could be pitted against Jay in 2029.
