During a public rally in Pune during the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to senior leader Sharad Pawar as a "wandering soul." This remark had significant political repercussions. There were reports that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had informally mentioned that he had requested Prime Minister Modi not to criticize Sharad Pawar during the rally, but Modi's comment ended up hurting them politically. However, Ajit Pawar has strongly denied these reports.
Ajit Pawar was quoted by a Marathi news channel as saying, "I personally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to speak against Sharad Pawar during his rally. But Modi specifically referred to Pawar as a 'wandering soul,' which had a negative impact on the elections."
Refuting these claims, Ajit Pawar clarified, "I never asked Narendra Modi not to criticize Sharad Pawar. If I did, show me the video... provide evidence. I never had any such discussion. False statements are being circulated in my name. Previously, it was also falsely claimed that I had gone to Delhi in disguise. Someone is spreading these rumors," he expressed angrily.
Ajit Pawar further explained, "There are multiple reasons for the electoral setback. Discussions about changing the Constitution alienated the SC-ST communities. The opposition succeeded in creating a narrative that laws and reservations would be changed, which also distanced the minority communities. Despite this, there was only a half-percent difference between the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi."
The meeting of Mahayuti leaders from the Yeola-Laslgaon Assembly constituency was held at the office of Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in Yeola. During this meeting, Ajit Pawar, along with other NCP leaders, discussed the defeat in the Nashik Lok Sabha constituency and strategized on how to secure more seats from Nashik district in the upcoming Assembly elections.