India, June 10 -- Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday expressed dismay over the unexpected split of his party nearly two years ago, and said future elections will present a different outcome, as he praised party workers who stood by him in difficult times.

Speaking at the party's 26th foundation day celebrations in Pune, Pawar acknowledged the unexpected rupture in the organisation. "We never imagined that the party would split, but it did. Despite that, you stayed the course and continued working without losing spirit," he told his party workers.

Referring indirectly to his nephew Ajit Pawar's decision to break away, the former Union minister said, "Some people chose a different path, embracin...