Pune: Senior NCP members said that they will continue to pursue the Congress leadership to withdraw its candidate from the Baramati bypoll. Congress members are upset with Ajit Pawar‘s son Parth’s criticism of their move but there is a difference of opinion within the party over contesting the seat.NCP’s cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, “Parth’s comment (against the Congress) could be out of anger. Earlier, Ajit Pawar was with the Congress and later (after the NCP’s formation) he was in govt in an alliance with it for 15 years. Considering this long association, we will continue to appeal to their party’s senior leadership to withdraw their candidate and let Sunetra vahini win the election unopposed.”According to NCP functionaries, some senior politicians may meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Wednesday with the request to withdraw his party’s candidate from the Baramati contest.A Congress member said, “While a section of the state Congress members are determined that the party contest the Baramati seat, some senior members feel that it should withdraw its candidate as a mark of respect to late Ajit Pawar.” Some may approach the central leadership in Delhi to convince them about a withdrawal.Meanwhile, after scrutiny of the nominations for the Baramati bypoll, the election office disqualified two candidates due to non-compliance with the required documents and 53 candidates remain in the fray. Thursday is the last day for withdrawal of nomination.
