Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharad Pawar engaged in a "candid" conversation on stage, just days after Pawar's switch to the ruling BJP in Maharashtra.

In a surprising turn of events, Sharad Pawar, a senior leader of the opposition, appeared on stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune, Maharashtra today. This move has upset Pawar's allies and other parties who had urged him to boycott the event. Despite the ongoing political acrimony between the ruling BJP and the opposition, the two leaders warmly greeted each other on stage. At the beginning of the event, PM Modi approached Pawar, and they were seen engaging in what ANI described as a "candid conversation." Pawar was seen grinning and patting the Prime Minister during their interaction.

The sight of an opposition stalwart sharing a stage with PM Modi serves as a reality check for the opposition's new alliance, INDIA, which consists of 26 parties and is set to hold its third meeting in Mumbai after previous meetings in Patna and Bengaluru.

Pawar was the chief guest at the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust event, where PM Modi received the Lokmanya Tilak National Award. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, and Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar, who recently joined the BJP after splitting from NCP, were also present on stage. PM Modi greeted Ajit Pawar and gave him a pat on the back during the event.

The joint appearance of PM Modi and Sharad Pawar on stage after seven years has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about their political intentions. The unexpected interaction between the two leaders has fueled discussions about a potential realignment in Maharashtra politics.

PM Modi's emphasis on trust and development in his speech, along with his praise for Lokmanya Tilak and Veer Savarkar, might be seen as an attempt to reach out to Pawar and the people of Maharashtra. On the other hand, Pawar's decision to attend the event despite opposition pressure and recent political developments within his party suggests a desire to maintain cordial relations with the ruling BJP and keep his options open.

The political landscape in Maharashtra has witnessed significant changes in recent times, with Pawar's party, the NCP, facing a split and his nephew Ajit Pawar joining hands with the BJP to form a government in the state. The Congress and Shiv Sena, who are part of the opposition alliance INDIA, have been critical of Pawar's decision to share a stage with PM Modi, which has further strained the already fragile relationship between the opposition parties.

As Maharashtra gears up for upcoming elections, the joint appearance of PM Modi and Sharad Pawar has added a new dimension to the political dynamics in the state. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the future alignment of parties and the electoral landscape in Maharashtra.