Overview
- Sunetra Pawar, who opened her campaign Sunday at a Hanuman temple in Kanheri, urged voters to judge her work and not her gender.
- The contest narrowed after the Congress withdrew its nominee on April 9, leaving 22 Independent candidates as she runs with the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
- Polling is set for April 23 with counting on May 4, and the outcome will decide her assembly seat required to remain deputy chief minister.
- She vowed to extend Ajit Pawar’s development agenda, highlighting the ₹1,500-per-month Ladki Bahin Yojana and a push to solve water shortages in 33 Baramati tehsil villages.
- Senior NCP leaders Aditi Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal said she should become chief minister in the future, signaling a bid to consolidate the party behind her leadership.