In Pune/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar expressed strong disapproval of a controversial statement by Shiv Sena minister Tanaji Sawant. Sawant had remarked feeling nauseated while sitting next to NCP members in Mahayuti. NCP's chief spokesperson, Umesh Patil, condemned Sawant's derogatory statement and suggested that staying in alliance with such ministers could harm the party's image. Patil stated that NCP should not remain silent and risk losing credibility with their supporters. He proposed the idea of leaving the alliance rather than tolerating such insults. NCP members urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to remove Sawant from the cabinet, with Patil suggesting that NCP ministers boycott cabinet meetings until Sawant is ousted. The opposition also joined the fray, challenging NCP to quit Mahayuti to uphold their self-respect. The Shiv Sena distanced itself from Sawant's statement, with State Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai clarifying that it was Sawant's personal opinion and not representative of the Shiv Sena or Mahayuti.