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With trends suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance is falling well short of its target of winning 220 assembly seats in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the message was that people did not like "the arrogance of power".
The people, however, have asked the Nationalist Congress Party to remain in opposition, Pawar added, stating that it will not try to form government.
"People have not accepted the talk of 220 seats (out of 288). The NCP accepts people's mandate humbly. The Congress, NCP, Peasants and Workers Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and other allies whole-heartedly co-operated with each other. The election result shows people did not like the arrogance of power," Pawar said.
Without naming leaders of the ruling parties, Pawar also observed "some people crossed the limit of holding extreme views".
"People have asked us to sit in the opposition. The thought of trying to get into power doesn't even cross our minds. We will work to expand our base," he further said.
Pawar also noted those who deserted the Opposition camp to join the ruling parties were not accepted by the people.
"People did not like their act of expediency ahead of the election," he added.
Without naming ex-NCP MP from Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, who was set to lose behind NCP candidate in the Satara Lok Sabha byelection, Pawar said people did not like Bhosale's decision to join the BJP.
Newly-elected NCP MLAs will meet after Diwali to discuss future course of action, he said.
"The NCP and allies will also meet after Diwali to discuss future course of action," Pawar said, replying to a question about who will get the post of leader of opposition.