Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, fiercely condemned the Election Commission's decision to recognise Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction as the legitimate Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Raut accused the EC of undermining democracy with its verdict.

Raut expressed his displeasure at the injustices endured by NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray during a press conference in Mumbai. He said that the EC's judgement hurt the Shiv Sena and the NCP, both of which preserve Marathi identity.