Maharashtra: Drenched in rain, NCP chief Sharad Pawar accepts mistake

As Maharashtra moves closer to elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Friday addressed a rally in the party's stronghold of Satara. The NCP chief was seen addressing the rally in intense rainfall. The downpour during the rally completely drenched Sharad Pawar. During the rally, Pawar admitted to committing a 'mistake' in the national elections. The mistake, in particular, was Pawar's decision of not contesting in the Lok Sabha elections. 

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Drenched in rain, Pawar admits his 'mistake'

During his speech, Sharad Pawar said that he is admitting his mistake. In addition, he also said that Satara will correct the mistake in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. 

"If a person makes a mistake, he or she will want to admit that mistake. I openly admit that I was wrong in the Lok Sabha elections. But I am glad that everyone in Satara is waiting for the 21st to correct that mistake," said Pawar

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The NCP supremo's statement came a day after Prime Minister Modi attacked him over failing to contest the elections from the party's stronghold and parliamentary constituency. 

"They don't even have the courage to contest even Lok Sabha elections from Satara," PM Modi said addressing a rally in Satara on Thursday.

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Prime Minister Modi attacks Congress-NCP alliance

PM Modi concluded his campaign trail in Maharashtra on Friday. During his address at Mumbai's BKC, PM Modi unleashed attack on the Congress-NCP alliance and said that they did not focus on development. He said that both parties stressed on development of ministries instead of Mumbai infrastructure. 

"Under Congress and NCP, Mumbai's ministries developed but not its infrastructure. They focussed more on cabinet expansion. In their ties, people had no clue when a minister will change. It was like a lottery. Suddenly someone's luck shone and they would be made a minister. But BJP has given the state a stable government," PM said.

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Assembly election in Maharashtra 

In September, the Election Commission of India announced the state Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. The total strength of the Maharashtra Assembly is 288, out of which 9 seats are reserved for SC and 5 for the ST category. In total, Maharashtra has 8.94 crore registered voters, out of which 1.16 lakh are service voters. 1.8 lakh ballot units, 1.28 lakh control units, and 1.39 lakh VVPATs will be used in the state. The two main competitors are the Congress- Nationalist Congress Party and the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The BJP will contest 150 seats as against that of Shiv Sena who will field candidates in 124 constituencies. The NCP and Congress will contest an equal number of seats. While the voting will take place on October 21, the results will be declared on October 24. 

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