Congress Threatens Baramati Bypoll Exit Over Pawar Crash FIR

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has issued a conditional ultimatum regarding the upcoming Baramati assembly bypoll. Party leaders stated on Monday that they will consider withdrawing their candidate from the contest if a first information report (FIR) is formally registered in connection with the fatal plane crash that claimed the life of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The statement directly links the electoral contest to the ongoing investigation into the aviation accident. Ajit Pawar, a prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, died in the crash earlier this year. His son, Yugendra Pawar, is currently the NCP candidate for the bypoll, a seat traditionally held by the Pawar family. The Congress party's declaration escalates the political tension surrounding the election, framing participation as contingent upon legal action in the crash case. The party did not specify a timeline for the potential withdrawal or detail what form the 'consideration' of withdrawal would take.