Why did the Congress withdraw its candidate from Baramati at the last minute?

NCP and NCP(SP) leaders, including Sunetra Pawar, met with Maharashtra Congress president Harshawardhan Sapkal to request the withdrawal of their candidate from the Baramati by-election. The Pawars argued for a united front against a competing candidate, while Congress leaders expressed disappointment over the lack of outreach from the NCP. The Congress eventually backed down and agreed to withdraw its candidate in response to pressure from allies and the Pawar family.