The Congress party has thwarted the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) plans for an unopposed victory for deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar in the Baramati assembly bypoll by declaring Akash More, a prominent Dhangar leader, as its candidate. This strategic move comes after state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal denied Pawar's request for support, emphasizing the need to unite Dhangar voters in the constituency. The Baramati seat was vacated following the tragic death of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28. The deadline for filing nominations is set for April 6, with Pawar expected to submit her nomination on that day, although key leaders from the ruling coalition may not attend due to prior commitments. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has indicated support for Pawar, but discussions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition regarding the bypoll are ongoing, particularly concerning the Rahuri seat as well. BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban highlighted a divide within Uddhav Thackeray's camp regarding support for Pawar, indicating a complex political landscape ahead of the elections.