On resignation of Shankarrao Chavan on 26 June 1988, Sharad Pawar was appointed Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the second time.

[1] Pawar formed his second ministry, which continued in office until legislative elections in 1990.

Pawar had been the State's youngest[2] chief minister from 1978 to 1980, but had since quit Congress to from a separate party.

The Pawar-led Indian Congress (Socialist) secured 54 seats in the 1985 legislative elections but his former party maintained its majority.

In December 1986, Pawar re-joined Congress, hoping to be made the chief minister.