Mumbai, August 11: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is grappling with escalating tensions within the Ajit Pawar faction, leading to significant internal power struggles, administrative hurdles, and leadership disputes. The situation intensified following reports of political strategist Prashant Kishor meeting with Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and party president Supriya Pawar, along with MP Parth Pawar, to discuss the party’s future strategy.
In response, NCP state president and MP Sunil Tatkare expressed his frustration, stating he was unaware of any official appointment of Kishor as an advisor. Tatkare emphasized the need for direct engagement with the public for the party’s growth, indirectly critiquing the current leadership’s approach.
This dialogue highlights the growing rift between senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare on one side, and Supriya Pawar and Parth Pawar on the other.
The party’s troubles deepened when the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notice directing the NCP to submit an official proposal regarding recent organizational changes, following a complaint related to party administration.
Internal discord surged after the sudden demise of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Supriya Pawar’s subsequent swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister.
While initial hopes pointed towards Praful Patel taking the reins as national executive president, Parth Pawar gradually established control over party administration, exacerbating internal conflicts.
Early signs of the dispute emerged when party representatives formally requested the cancellation of correspondence sent to the Election Commission, covering the period from Ajit Pawar’s death to Supriya Pawar’s election as party president.
Additionally, the official list of national office bearers submitted to the Election Commission notably lacked operational designations for both Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, resulting in Patel being designated only as the party leader in the Rajya Sabha and Tatkare in the Lok Sabha.
Although Supriya Pawar publicly attributed this to an administrative error and assured corrections, senior party leaders claim no formal amendments have been made. During Supriya Pawar’s recent visit to Delhi, a clear divide was observed between the factions, as neither Patel nor Tatkare attended her events.
The controversy escalated further after senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal publicly expressed dissatisfaction regarding Parth Pawar’s involvement in the tender process related to the Food and Civil Supplies Department. Insiders believe that Parth Pawar’s political ambitions, particularly following his father’s death, are at the core of this internal strife.
Observers suggest that Parth Pawar is attempting to diminish the influence of senior leaders like Patel and Tatkare to solidify his standing within the political hierarchy. He had previously played a role in media operations for political consulting firms during earlier election campaigns.
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