Sharad Pawar ‘upset’ with MVA leaders, asks them to speak in one voice

NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. Recently, MVA leaders have been at loggerheads over issues related to the Adani Group and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.

Sharad Pawar also indicated that he might attend one of the several MVA rallies being held statewide. (PTI)

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Upset with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders for publicly voicing their contradictory views, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has told Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to ensure that leaders of all three key players of the alliance speak in one voice before the masses.

Pawar said this at a meeting he held with Thackeray at his residence, Silver Oak, in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. Pawar also indicated that he might attend one of the several MVA rallies being held statewide.

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“The NCP chief said all the three parties might have their own agenda and their own plans and policies, but when they go before the people as MVA leaders, they need to speak in one voice and one language. If we place forth our differing views before the people, they will get confused and it will be bad publicity for the MVA,” Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut told The Indian Express.

Raut said the Sena chief agreed with Pawar’s views and expressed the need to hold discussions about not airing their views publicly, creating confusion and giving the BJP a handle to slam them. “We also hold similar views like those of the NCP chief,” Raut said.

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In recent times, the MVA parties have been at loggerheads over various issues like the demand for a probe into the alleged malpractices by the Adani Group and on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. On the Adani issue, Pawar had opposed a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe while Congress favoured a JPC. On the Savarkar issue, the Sena and NCP demanded a Bharat Ratna for him, while the Congress accused the Hindutva ideologue of working in the interest of the British after apologising and getting himself released from jail.

On Tuesday, when Pawar and Uddhav met, NCP’s Supriya Sule and Raut himself were present. They held a discussion for one-and-a-half hours. “To ensure coordination between MVA parties, the NCP chief and Uddhav Thackeray have always communicated with each other. The meeting was held in this backdrop,” Raut said.

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Raut said the two leaders also discussed several issues including the demand for a JPC probe on the Adani issue, the uproar created by the ruling BJP in Parliament over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in London, PM Narendra Modi’s degree and the damage caused by unseasonal rain in Maharashtra. They also discussed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s visit to Ayodhya instead of taking steps to alleviate farmers’ woes, Raut said.

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Raut added that Pawar is likely to attend one of the rallies being organised by the MVA across the state ahead of the elections. “The very first meeting of MVA in Aurangabad drew a huge response. On April 16, there will be a second meeting in Nagpur. On May 1, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is expected to address an MVA rally in Pune,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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