Mumbai, April 9 : In a significant political development, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has officially announced its withdrawal from the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election.

State President Harshwardhan Sapkal confirmed the decision during a press conference on Thursday, the final day for the withdrawal of nominations.

The bypoll, scheduled for April 23, was necessitated by the untimely and tragic demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. While Congress had initially fielded Akash More as its candidate, the party has now opted to step back, paving the way for a potential unopposed or less contested election.

Addressing the media, Sapkal explained that the initial decision to contest -- taken on March 15 -- was a strategic ideological move against the BJP. However, a series of high-level emotional appeals from across the political spectrum led to a change in stance. "Ajit Pawar was a tall leader of Maharashtra, and his accidental death has left a deep void in the state's political landscape," Sapkal stated.

"While we remain ideologically opposed to the BJP, we cannot ignore the cultural and emotional traditions of Maharashtra,â?? he added.

Sapkal revealed that several top leaders from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had reached out to the Congress leadership to request a withdrawal. NCP president and Dy CM Sunetra Pawar reached out multiple times, including as recently as Wednesday and Thursday morning, emphasising the long-standing relationship between Ajit Pawar and the Congress party. Senior NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, made personal telephonic appeals for the sake of political grace and tradition, said Sapkal.

The state Congress chief noted that NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar had provided counsel on the matter, and NCP(SP) Working President Supriya Sule had expressed similar sentiments regarding a dignified tribute to the departed leader.

The breakthrough came following a meeting with Rohit Pawar. Sapkal mentioned that Rohit Pawar visited to seek cooperation and expressed regret over certain "immature remarks" made by others against Congress recently, acting on behalf of the family to mend ties. "Ultimately, our senior leadership discussed the situation at length. While we were prepared to fight this election, we have chosen to prioritise harmony, civility, and Maharashtra's political culture," Sapkal said.

"Considering Ajit Dada's long association with Congress and the emotional appeal from his family and colleagues, we are withdrawing our candidate, Akash More,â?? he added. With Congress officially out of the race, the focus now shifts to the remaining candidates as Baramati prepares for a poll heavily overshadowed by the legacy of the late Ajit Pawar.

Earlier, in a dramatic turn of events, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally reached out to the opposition to negotiate the Baramati Assembly by-election. According to reliable sources, CM Fadnavis made a direct phone call to Harshwardhan Sapkal. During the conversation, CM Fadnavis reportedly requested the Congress to withdraw its candidate from the Baramati by-election to ensure the unopposed election of Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, who is contesting as the candidate for the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

Similarly, the NCP(SP) Chief Sharad Pawar spoke to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed the withdrawal of the party's nominee in Baramati.

The Congress high command had earlier informed Pawar that they were "positively considering" the proposal. Pawar told reporters, â??The Congress has decided to contest the by-election in Baramati. It is a national party. We cannot tell them what to do, but coincidentally, this seat has become vacant after the demise of a capable representative from Maharashtra. If asked, I would advise Congress. It would be appropriate for this election to be held unopposed, but the decision is up to Congress.â??

/IANS