Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) has joined hands with the saffron cousins, the BJP and Shiv Sena, but its election manifesto has deliberately attempted to separate the party from the duo’s ideology, albeit with a disclaimer that its stand does not harm the tripartite working conditions and relations. Releasing the manifesto, Pawar said on Monday that his party had not given up on its ideology despite joining the NDA.

“We are contesting the Lok Sabha elections as Mahayuti under PM Modi’s leadership and we are certain of a huge victory. Our appeal to people is that Modi-ji should become the PM for the third time. Many people look up to him and is a strong face of the NDA,” he added, even as certain points in the manifesto raised many eyebrows in the BJP and the rival NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction. Many said to have a manifesto of its own for a party that is contesting less than five seats was more than a mere election exercise.