Bajrang Sonawane, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sharad Pawar faction) and recent Lok Sabha election winner from Beed, has strenuously denied contacting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Sonawane responded to NCP MLC Amol Mitkari's charges by dismissing them and expressing surprise. Mitkari tweeted, "Beed's Bappa called Dada," implying Sonawane had contacted Ajit Pawar.