Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 24: Sharad Pawar, chief of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), hosted a dinner meeting for leaders of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai, marking his first interaction with them after a recent spell of illness.

The meeting, held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre on Monday night, was attended by key alliance leaders including Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and former state Congress president Nana Patole.

Sources said discussions focused on the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections, with the tenure of nine members, including Uddhav Thackeray, set to end in May.

Earlier this month, Pawar and six candidates of the ruling Mahayuti alliance were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.

The 85-year-old veteran leader had been hospitalised twice in Pune last month due to a chest infection and dehydration, which had kept him away from public engagements.