<p>NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/people-want-change-says-sharad-pawar-ahead-of-maharashtra-assembly-elections-23378667" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Z plus security cover</a> accorded to him could be an arrangement to get "authentic information" about him as Maharashtra assembly polls are around the corner.</p>
<p>The Centre on Wednesday accorded Z plus security cover, the highest category of armed VIP security cover, to <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/sharad-pawar-granted-z-plus-security-by-central-government-23378522" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Sharad Pawar</a>, official sources had told PTI.</p>
<p>Asked about the security upgrade for him, the 83-year-old politician told the media in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he wasn't aware of the reason behind the move.</p>
<p>"A home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah," said Pawar.</p>
<p>"Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me)," he quipped.</p>
<p>A team of 55 armed personnel from the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/sharad-pawar-takes-jibe-at-pm-modis-one-nation-one-election-pitch-made-during-independence-day-address-23377205" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Central Reserve Police Force</a> (CRPF) has been earmarked as part of Pawar's Z plus security cover. A threat assessment review by central agencies had recommended a strong security cover for Pawar, official sources had said earlier.</p>
<p>The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.</p>
<p>Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/pawar-faces-maratha-protests-and-black-flags-in-maharashtra-23374432" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Maha Vikas Aghadi</a> (MVA), also comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, that performed impressively in the held Lok Sabha polls winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state.</p>
<p>The ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar had to contend with only 17 seats.</p>
<p>Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October-November.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Meanwhile, earlir, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said that there is "uneasiness" among the people for a political change in Maharashtra.</p>
<p>The voting for 288 assembly constituencies will be held later this year.</p>
<p>Speaking at a press conference at the party's regional office in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar said, "Assembly elections are ahead. Meetings are being held. People of Maharashtra want change."</p>
<p>Pawar's comments come in the wake of a protest in Badlapur, Thane district, following an alleged sexual assault on two minor girls, which he cited as a clear indicator of the current political situation.</p>
<p><strong>(With inputs from PTI and ANI)</strong></p><p>
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NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the Z plus security cover accorded to him could be an arrangement to get "authentic information" about him

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