Following the resounding success of his party in the recent Lok Sabha elections, NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar is poised to assert a stronger presence in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. A senior leader of the NCP (SP) revealed that Pawar expressed his intention to claim a larger share of seats in the Assembly elections, citing the party's pivotal role in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

In a meeting with the party's eight newly elected MPs on Friday, Pawar acknowledged that while the NCP (SP) could have contested more seats in the Lok Sabha polls, he opted for fewer to maintain unity within the MVA. "It is due to the unity of the alliance that the MVA secured a significant number of seats in the state," Pawar emphasized during the session.

"Keep in mind that we have to bring the party into power in the state. Be prepared and start working towards this goal immediately," Pawar urged the party MPs, emphasizing the need for proactive preparations.

Pune NCP (SP) chief Prashant Jagtap expressed optimism about the party's prospects, stating, "We are hopeful of securing a substantial share of seats in the Assembly elections. This will further boost the morale of our dedicated party workers, who are already buoyed by our recent success in the Lok Sabha elections."

During the Lok Sabha polls, the NCP (SP) achieved the highest strike rate among the MVA partners, winning eight out of the ten seats it contested. In comparison, the Congress secured 13 seats out of 17 contested, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) won nine out of 21 seats it fought for.