The Maharashtra CM said the NCP and NCP (SP) were separate political parties and would take their own decisions on the matter. While Sharad Pawar leads the NCP (SP), Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar heads the NCP, which is an NDA ally and a partner in the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra

Raj Thackeray accused the BJP of holding protests to defend democracy while allegedly using government decisions to influence the outcome of local cooperative elections