Sunetra Pawar takes a big lead in Baramati by-election, strong performance in the first round

Maharashtra: Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has taken a strong lead after the first round of counting in the Baramati Assembly by-election on Monday. Initial results indicate a near-one-sided contest, with the focus shifting more to the margin of victory than the contest itself.

According to the first round of counting, Sunetra Pawar received 8,868 votes. The combined total of the other 22 candidates and NOTA combined received only around 150 votes, giving her a significant lead. These early trends indicate a strong position for her.

Sunetra Pawar is the candidate of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and has received widespread political support in this election. According to political analysts, the Baramati seat saw a narrow contest this time, making the election largely a foregone conclusion.

The seat fell vacant following the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026. Following his death, political dynamics shifted, and the alliance fielded his wife, Sunetra Pawar, as its candidate.

A notable feature of this by-election was that no strong opposition party fielded an effective candidate for the seat, making the contest relatively weak. Furthermore, the support of senior leader Sharad Pawar further strengthened Sunetra Pawar’s position, a clear impact on the electoral landscape.

Baramati, considered a key political constituency in Maharashtra, has long been under the influence of the Pawar family. Consequently, this by-election was considered politically significant, although initial trends have shown it to be a one-sided contest.

Tight security arrangements have been maintained during the counting process, and vote counting is ongoing at all polling stations under administrative supervision. Officials say that the final outcome will become clearer as subsequent rounds are counted.

Currently, preliminary figures indicate a strong favor for Sunetra Pawar, and this lead is being considered significant in political circles.