India, April 4 -- The Congress is set to contest the upcoming bypolls for the Baramati assembly constituency, necessitated by the death of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, despite widespread appeals for an unopposed election for his widow and political successor, Sunetra Pawar.

This effectively puts the Congress at odds with its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), which have both decided not to contest the by-elections as a mark of respect for Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in January.

The Congress will also contest the by-elections in Rahuri, necessitated by the death of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Shivaji Kardile. Both by-elections are scheduled for April ...