NCP-SP leaders remarks came after the the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance sweeped the assembly polls in Maharashtra

Sharad Pawar defended fielding Yugendra against Ajit Pawar in Baramati despite the latter's dominant win. Acknowledging his faction's poor performance with just 10 seats, Pawar credited the Mahayuti's women-centric Ladki Bahin scheme for its electoral success.

Ajit Pawar's NCP faction has emerged as the third-largest party in the state with 41 seats, trailing the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. In contrast, Sharad Pawar's faction managed to win just 10 seats.

Ajit Pawar's NCP won 41 seats out of the 59 seats it contested and took a vote share of 9.01 per cent. The Sharad Pawar faction could win just 10 seats.

Sharad Pawar said that the Ladki Bahin scheme, women's participation in voting in large numbers, and religious polarization may have played a role in Mahayuti's victory in the Maharashtra polls.