Congress Announces Candidate for Baramati Assembly By-Election in Maharashtra

Mumbai: The Congress has announced its candidate for the by-election to the Baramati assembly seat in Maharashtra. Contrary to the wishes of other parties in the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), the Congress has fielded advocate Akash Vishwanath More from Baramati. The seat fell vacant after the death of Maharashtra's Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. His wife and current Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is contesting from this seat. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP has already refused to field a candidate against Sunetra Pawar. On Saturday, Sunetra Pawar had sought Uddhav Thackeray's support for the Baramati assembly by-election, but the Congress has announced a candidate against him. Akash Vishwanath More, along with Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal, is contesting the by-election to Rahuri assembly seat along with Baramati in Baramati. Voting for both seats will be held on April 23. The last date for filing nominations is April 6.