Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader, has denied media claims that he sought the chief minister position or proposed a friendly fight for 25 seats during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He clarified that their conversation focused on agricultural issues, particularly the welfare of farmers and onion export policies, and emphasized the ongoing discussions regarding seat allocation for the upcoming Assembly elections. Pawar dismissed rumors of his party contesting independently and stated that the final seat-sharing arrangement would be announced after thorough discussions. He also expressed his disapproval of friendly contests in elections, asserting that such strategies can lead to disputes. Furthermore, he mentioned that he requested the removal of his photo from a government scheme advertisement, asserting his intention to minimize his public imagery. Overall, Pawar reiterated his commitment to public welfare initiatives as the primary goal of his party.