Sharad Pawar Reveals 160-Seat Offer in Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Says He and Rahul Gandhi Rejected It

August 10, 2025 MTIMES 32 Views BJP, Congress, Devendra Fadnavis, Election Commission, EVM controversy, Maharashtra Assembly elections, Mahayuti, MVA, NCP SP, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar 160 seat offer, Shiv Sena 2 min read

NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar has made a startling revelation that two individuals approached him ahead of the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, claiming they could “guarantee” the Opposition 160 out of the 288 seats. Pawar said he even arranged a meeting between them and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, but both leaders ultimately rejected the proposal, insisting, “This is not our way.”

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Pawar recalled that while the offer was surprising, he had no doubts about the Election Commission’s integrity and therefore chose to ignore it. “Such people do show up, so I didn’t give them importance. We decided to earn people’s trust through direct campaigning,” he said, adding that he no longer has the individuals’ contact details.

Although Pawar did not directly mention the polls, it was evident he was referring to the Assembly elections where the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP) swept 235 seats, while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena UBT, NCP SP) won just 50.

Sharad Pawar 160 Seat Offer Sparks Political Debate

Pawar also backed Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation in Parliament on alleged “vote theft” and criticised the EC for demanding a signed affidavit from the Leader of the Opposition. “Rahul Gandhi has already taken an oath in Parliament. His allegations must be investigated in depth,” Pawar asserted, questioning why BJP leaders were responding to issues concerning the EC.

On a lighter note, he dismissed media buzz over Uddhav Thackeray’s seating at a recent INDIA bloc dinner, joking it was like choosing seats away from the first row in a cinema.

Fadnavis Responds to Sharad Pawar 160 Seat Offer Remark

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis hit back, accusing the Opposition of “lying and running away.” He noted that Pawar had previously defended the credibility of EVMs but had now shifted stance after Rahul Gandhi’s meeting. Fadnavis insisted India’s elections are among the most transparent in the world and criticised Opposition leaders for refusing to submit affidavits, suggesting they feared legal consequences.

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