India, April 7 -- NCP leader Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination on Monday for the April 23 Baramati by-election, setting the stage for a contest the ruling Mahayuti alliance had briefly hoped would be uncontested. The poll, triggered by the death of former NCP chief and Sunetra's husband Ajit Pawar, will turn into a closely watched battle if the Congress doesn't withdraw from the race.

Pawar, 62, is contesting an election for the second time. Her foray into electoral politics was marked by her loss to Supriya Sule in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, after which she was given a Rajya Sabha seat by the NCP. Since the -election will fill a seat occupied by her deceased husband, it adds an emotional layer to Pawar's candidature. For the NCP, it...