Owaisi's sensational claim: Sharad Pawar will not be able to return to the Rajya Sabha! Sharad Pawar and Owaisi

January 5, 2026, 
Mumbai: Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has made a shocking claim that raises questions about the political future of senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar. Owaisi said that since Pawar's term in the Rajya Sabha ends in March, he does not have the required number of MLAs to get re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. He also hinted that this would lead to a major 'drama' in future politics.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Amravati, Owaisi said, "Sharad Pawar's term in the Rajya Sabha is until March. How many MLAs does his alliance currently have? If he wants to go back to the Rajya Sabha, he needs the numbers. If he does go, how will he manage it? Everyone will find out. Just watch the drama that unfolds!"
The Rajya Sabha election calculations are complicated
These Rajya Sabha elections have become particularly important because the terms of many prominent leaders are ending. This includes ministers in the central government and veteran leaders from various parties. If these leaders are not re-elected, it will be difficult for them to remain in the government or the party.
The leaders whose terms are ending include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, Digvijay Singh, Sharad Pawar, Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, B. L. Verma, George Kurian. Also included are Prem Chand Gupta, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Ramnath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ramdas Athawale, Ramgopal Yadav, Neeraj Shekhar, Shakti Singh Gohil, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Thambi Durai, Tiruchi Siva and former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
These elections are likely to bring about new changes in the politics of Maharashtra and the country. Owaisi's statement has caused a stir in the Sharad Pawar group and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, and further clarification on the matter is awaited.