"Will talk to them after decision is taken," says Sharad Pawar on Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu

New Delhi [India], June 5 : After Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar reached New Delhi to attend the meeting organised by the INDIA bloc, Pawar asserted that he will not speak to Chandrababu Naidu or Nitish Kumar unless a decision will be taken by the INDIA bloc in the meeting
When asked about TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while addressing a press conference in the National Capital, Sharad Pawar said, "...I won't talk to them... When a decision is taken during our (INDIA alliance) meeting, then I will. Right now, I haven't spoken to them"
On being asked if they would consider the partners of BJP-led NDA alliance in the INDIA bloc, he said, "I cannot comment on that. We will let you know after the meeting. Today is our first meeting and the decision will be taken on the future strategies."
Notably in Maharashtra, Congress won 13 out of 48 seats while the BJP secured nine seats. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey) won nine seats while NCP-SP clinched eight seats.
Shiv Sena (SHS) won seven seats while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured one seat.
Declaration of results of the 18th Lok Sabha election in the 543-member Parliament saw the BJP-led NDA winning 294 seats and the INDIA bloc bagging 234 seats. A party or coalition requires a simple majority of 272 seats to form the government.
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, much lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a third term, but the BJP is relying on the support of other parties in his coalition - JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP's chief Chandrababu Naidu, as it needs 32 seats to reach the 272 majority mark.
For the first time, since the Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in 2014, it did not secure a majority on its own -- far fewer than the record 303 it won in the 2019 election.
TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu has confirmed his backing for the NDA by declaring, "I am with the NDA."
"I have seen so many political changes in the country. I am in NDA. I am going to the NDA meeting. If there is anything else, we will report to you," Naidu said, extending his support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) while addressing a Press conference in Vijayawada today.
Nitish Kumar's key aide Sanjay Jha also dispelled talk of the Bihar CM having discussions with NCP Patron Sharad Pawar claiming that the JDU was committed to the NDA.