Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), speculated that the Z plus security cover recently granted to him might be a strategy to gather 'authentic information' about him ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The Centre provided this highest level of VIP security, which includes a team of 55 armed personnel from the CRPF, following a threat assessment by central agencies. Pawar noted that he was one of three individuals awarded this security, alongside RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His comments come as the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes his party, performed well in recent Lok Sabha elections, winning 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti coalition secured only 17 seats. Elections for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are anticipated in October-November.