Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP Sunetra Pawar has broken the record set by former MLA Ajit Pawar in the Baramati Assembly constituency with a massive victory margin in the by-election 2026.
At the end of the 20th round of counting, Sunetra Pawar was leading by more than 1.89 lakh votes, surpassing Ajit Pawar’s 2019 victory margin of 1,65,265 votes. According to previous election records in the Baramati constituency, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had maintained dominance in the seat for several years. In the 2019 Assembly election, he secured 1,95,641 votes with a victory margin of 1,65,265 votes amid nearly 70% polling.
Before that, in 2014, he won by a margin of 89,791 votes after securing 1,50,588 votes. In 2009, he registered a lead of 1,02,797 votes with 1,28,544 votes and around 68% voter turnout.
In the 2024 election as well, Baramati recorded heavy voter participation, with 71.86% polling. Ajit Pawar had then secured 1,81,132 votes and won by a margin of over 1.01 lakh votes.
Against this backdrop, Sunetra Pawar’s lead of more than 1.89 lakh votes in the by-election is being viewed as a significant moment in Baramati’s political history. The counting trends remained largely one-sided throughout the day.
A total of 2,23,705 voters exercised their franchise in Baramati constituency. To secure a record majority, a candidate required at least 1,23,265 votes, a mark Sunetra Pawar crossed comfortably. Meanwhile, Sunetra appealed to party workers not to celebrate the victory publicly.
“As the results are being announced today, we are all emotional with memories of Dada. Therefore, no one should take out processions or throw flowers. Let us maintain restraint in accordance with Dada’s thoughts,” she said. She also thanked the voters of Baramati for their support.
“My heartfelt gratitude to the people of Baramati for giving me the opportunity to build the Baramati of my grandfather’s dream. This is not the end, but the beginning of a new Baramati,” she said.
Political observers, however, noted that the by-election turned largely one-sided due to the absence of strong candidates from major opposition parties. Experts said the significance of the record vote share would also depend on voter turnout and the broader political context of the election.