<p>Mumbai: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the Z plus security cover accorded to him could be an arrangement to get “authentic information” about him as Maharashtra assembly polls are around the corner.</p><p>The Centre on Wednesday accorded Z plus – the highest category of armed VIP security cover – to Pawar, official sources had said.</p><p>Asked about the security upgrade for him, the 83-year-old politician told the media in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he wasn’t aware of the reason behind the move.</p>.<p>“A home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah,” said Pawar.</p><p>“Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me),” he quipped.</p><p>A team of 55 armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been earmarked as part of Pawar’s Z plus security cover. A threat assessment review by central agencies had recommended a strong security cover for Pawar, official sources had said earlier.</p>.I am called Sharad Pawar, says NCP (SP) chief as he loses cool.<p>The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.</p><p>Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, that performed impressively in the held Lok Sabha polls winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state.</p><p>The ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar had to contend with only 17 seats.</p><p>Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October-November.</p>
<p>Mumbai: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the Z plus security cover accorded to him could be an arrangement to get “authentic information” about him as Maharashtra assembly polls are around the corner.</p><p>The Centre on Wednesday accorded Z plus – the highest category of armed VIP security cover – to Pawar, official sources had said.</p><p>Asked about the security upgrade for him, the 83-year-old politician told the media in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he wasn’t aware of the reason behind the move.</p>.<p>“A home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah,” said Pawar.</p><p>“Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me),” he quipped.</p><p>A team of 55 armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been earmarked as part of Pawar’s Z plus security cover. A threat assessment review by central agencies had recommended a strong security cover for Pawar, official sources had said earlier.</p>.I am called Sharad Pawar, says NCP (SP) chief as he loses cool.<p>The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X.</p><p>Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, that performed impressively in the held Lok Sabha polls winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state.</p><p>The ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar had to contend with only 17 seats.</p><p>Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October-November.</p>