Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), declared on Sunday that his party, along with the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), will contest the Maharashtra assembly elections in October. Pawar stated at a news conference in Pune that the coalition is committed to defending the interests of minor allies within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also comprises the Left parties and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP).

Sharad Pawar, former chief minister, indicated that the coalition intends to show a united front to the people of the state ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Polls, emphasising the need for reform in the state, reported PTI.