The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP. Pawar had joined the Shinde government in July last year and was made deputy CM.

In the contest between the two rival NCP factions in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Ajit Pawar-led party defeated the outfit headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar on 29 seats.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday acknowledged that the Maharashtra election results were not as expected, stressing that the outcome was a decision made by

Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil suggested that the party could have gained more seats without Ajit Pawar's NCP in the Mahayuti alliance. Patil praised Eknath Shinde's leadership, showing no dissatisfaction despite Pawar’s inclusion.