NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar met deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, creating political stir. Arif Naseem Khan also held a closed-door meeting with Pawar to gauge his political mood. Rumors of Pawar’s party joining the Mahayuti are circulating among Congress insiders. Congress is working to reclaim political space if Pawar’s party shifts alliances. Pawar’s party remains a constituent of the INDIA alliance, according to Congress.