Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut urged Ajit Pawar's NCP faction to merge with Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) after they allied for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls. Raut questioned Ajit Pawar's presence in the Mahayuti government, citing corruption allegations between the BJP and Ajit Pawar's NCP.