Won't form govt with Shiv Sena; results show people don't like arrogance of power, says Sharad Pawar

Accepting the defeat in Maharashtra state elections with humility, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar ruled out any alliance with Shiv Sena. Pawar also said the state elections results show that people don't like the arrogance of power.

Ruling out at any alliance with Shiv Sena to form the state government, Pawar said: "We will not go with Shiv Sena. NCP-Congress and other allies will decide together, the future course of action."

"People have asked us to sit in the opposition. The thought of trying to get into power doesn't even cross our minds. We will work to expand our base," he further said.


With trends suggesting that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is falling well short of its target of winning 220 assembly seats in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the message was that people did not like "the arrogance of power". Pawar said people power comes and goes but it is important to remain committed to a cause.

In the latest trends, the BJP was ahead in 102 constituencies and its ally Shiv Sena was leading in 61 seats, taking the combined tally to 163 seats in the 288 seats Maharashtra Assembly.

From the Opposition camp, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was leading in 54 seats and its coalition partner Congress was ahead in 41 constituencies. Independents were ahead in 14 constituencies.

Pawar also noted those who deserted the opposition camp to join the ruling parties were not accepted by the people.

"People did not like their act of expediency ahead of the election," he added.

Without naming ex-NCP MP from Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, who was trailing behind NCP candidate in the Satara Lok Sabha byelection, Pawar said people did not like Bhosale's decision to join the BJP.