The architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Sharad Pawar, has taken the lead to defuse the ever-growing tensions between his Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena. Pawar led a group of NCP ministers to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Kalanagar residence on Monday evening to thrash out differences and enhance coordination between the two principal parties to stabilise the government amid the pandemic.

Among other issues that have been a cause for concern, the two parties have split opinions over the unlocking of the lockdown, administrative and police reshuffles and poaching of elected representatives.