Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar has attributed the Mahayuti coalition’s sweeping victory in Maharashtra’s recent assembly elections to multiple factors, including the popularity of the Ladki Bahin scheme, significant female voter turnout, and religious polarisation. Speaking at a rally in Satara, he reflected on the electoral outcome, which saw the alliance dominate with 230 of the 288 assembly seats, a result he termed “unprecedented” in his political career.
Pawar acknowledged that slogans promoting Hindu unity by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, such as “Batenge to katenge, ek rahenge to nek rahenge,” resonated with voters, further consolidating Mahayuti’s position. Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), despite spirited campaigns, secured only 46 seats. Pawar expressed disappointment but affirmed his commitment to revitalizing the NCP-SP, stating, “We will assess our setbacks and take corrective steps to rebuild.”
When questioned about women’s safety under the current regime, Pawar criticised the administration for its failure to uphold dignity and security, despite launching welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin. Citing the rise in molestation cases and incidents of missing girls, he urged for systemic reforms to protect women and girls.
Addressing broader concerns, Pawar accused the BJP of attempting to amend the Constitution for unchecked power. “We united with the opposition to safeguard democracy. Such centralisation of power is dangerous,” he remarked during the rally, aligning his focus on restoring balance in governance.
Sharad Pawar defended fielding Yugendra against Ajit in Baramati, highlighted Mahayuti’s growing dominance, and refrained from commenting on EVM issues.
 chief Sharad Pawar has attributed the Mahayuti coalition's sweeping victory in Maharashtra's recent assembly elections to multiple factors, including the popularity of the Ladki Bahin scheme, significant female voter turnout, and religious polarisation.){kind=link}