NCP Leadership Crisis: Pawar Family Consolidates Power Amidst Internal Rift
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faces significant internal turmoil as President Sunetra Pawar consolidates power within her family, appointing her sons to key roles while omitting senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare from official lists. This move, triggered by power struggles following Ajit Pawar’s death, has sparked tensions and speculation of a hostile takeover. Although party officials label the exclusions as temporary or clerical errors, a truce meeting is scheduled in Mumbai to resolve disputes. The conflict highlights a generational shift and potential fragmentation within the Maharashtra-based political party.
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Parth Pawar Meets Fadnavis Amidst Reports of Internal Rift in NCP
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Parth Pawar met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis amid growing reports of internal discord within the party. While Fadnavis described the meeting as routine discussions on administrative and political issues between alliance partners, NCP sources indicated that the vacancy of a Rajya Sabha seat was also discussed. The meeting occurs against a backdrop of alleged friction within the NCP, where senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare are reportedly upset over being sidelined in favor of Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar. Some party members have approached founder Sharad Pawar to intervene in what they describe as turbulent times marked by mistrust and an eagerness for control by the younger generation. Conversely, NCP leader Umesh Patil dismissed these reports as baseless rumors spread by rival factions, asserting that Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar leads the party. Controversy has also arisen regarding letters sent to the Election Commission, which omitted senior leaders' names, leading to further confusion and speculation about potential leadership reshuffles or new national conventions.
News Today: Breaking News, Top Headlines & Live Updates | The HinduNCP Clarifies Omission of Senior Leaders from Officebearer List as Temporary Measure
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has addressed the controversy surrounding its recent list of national officebearers, which omitted senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. Senior spokesperson Umesh Patil declared the list temporary, attributed to safety measures amid an ongoing court case, and assured that new names would be added soon. Patil explicitly stated that neither Patel nor Tatkare has been removed from their respective positions as national working president and Maharashtra state chief. The clarification follows reports of high-level contacts between Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar and the omitted leaders, with a meeting scheduled for the coming week. While a subsequent working committee list identified Patel and Tatkare as parliamentary leaders, it fueled speculation about their status. Patil dismissed claims by opposition MLA Rohit Pawar regarding potential defections to the BJP, asserting that most opposition MPs are ready to join the NCP. The party leadership defended appointments of Pawar family members as internal prerogatives aimed at introducing new blood into leadership roles.
The Indian ExpressNCP Turmoil: Sunetra Pawar Marginalizes Old Guard, Elevates Family Members
Internal conflict within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has intensified as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and party president Sunetra Pawar sidelined senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. A letter sent to the Election Commission omitted Patel and Tatkare from the list of national office-bearers, instead appointing Sunetra’s sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, to significant positions. This move occurred while the senior leaders were traveling with Sunetra to attend the Assam Chief Minister’s swearing-in ceremony, catching them off guard. The rift stems from power struggles following the recent death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, which triggered allegations of a hostile takeover attempt by the Patel-Tatkare camp. In response to their submission of an amended party constitution seeking equal powers for the working president, Sunetra petitioned the Election Commission to disregard party communications during the transitional period. The reshuffle signals the consolidation of authority within the Pawar family, with Parth Pawar emerging as the decisive figure in organizational matters, effectively reducing the influence of the party’s old guard.
The Indian ExpressNCP Consolidates Power Under Pawar Family as Senior Leaders Are Sidelined
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is undergoing a significant leadership restructuring that centralizes power within the Pawar family. Sunetra Pawar has been elected as the party president, while her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, have been elevated to key top-party posts. This shift has resulted in the sidelining of senior leaders, notably Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, who were omitted from key organizational roles in a recent letter submitted by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The exclusions have sparked speculation and internal tension within the party. Sources indicate that Sunetra Pawar and her sons are actively seeking a meeting with Sunil Tatkare to clarify the situation and address the concerns arising from these omissions. Previously, similar exclusions of prominent leaders were attributed by the Pawar faction to technical mistakes, but the current pattern suggests a deliberate consolidation of control. This development marks a pivotal moment for the NCP, highlighting a generational transition and potential friction between the established senior leadership and the emerging Pawar-led hierarchy.
Times of IndiaNCP Leadership Plans Truce Meeting with Senior Leaders Patel and Tatkare
The top leadership of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including President Sunetra Pawar and her sons Parth and Jay, has initiated contact with senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare to resolve internal conflicts. A meeting is scheduled for next week in Mumbai to address organizational disputes and finalize the party's future strategy. Tensions escalated after Sunetra Pawar omitted Patel and Tatkare from the list of national office-bearers submitted to the Election Commission, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to sideline them following the death of former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Although Sunetra Pawar attributed the omission to a clerical error, the letter remains unwithdrawn. The situation intensified when veteran leader Sharad Pawar publicly supported Patel and Tatkare, praising their capabilities. This development marks a significant effort to bridge the widening gap within the party, which has been experiencing turbulence over control and organizational structure since January 2026. Sources indicate that a formal roadmap for the party's functioning is likely to be finalized during the upcoming discussions at the party headquarters.
The Indian Express