On March 5, The Indian Express had reported how a number of aspirants from the Madha constituency had bowed out after the declaration of Pawar’s candidature from there.

The NCP supremo told a news conference on Saturday that though he had expressed his desire to enter Parliament through the Rajya Sabha, party workers had insisted that he contest from Madha. “R R Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal and Vijaysinh Mohite Patil repeatedly asked me to contest from Madha. In my long career, my party workers have stood by me and now it’s time to heed to their request,” he said.

He also laid to rest speculations about his prime ministerial candidature, by saying that his party will contest only 40-45 seats in the country. “There are much bigger parties and you need more strength to become a PM,” he said.