NCP Rift Speculation: Leader Backs Ajit Pawar’s Family

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lawmaker and former minister Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday said that Ajit Pawar’s family should have the final say in party matters, asking those opposed to its decisions to leave the organisation. His remarks come amid speculation about internal differences within the NCP following the death of its senior leader in a plane crash in January.

Kokate, a loyalist of the Pawar family, said that individuals opposing the family’s decisions should not be allowed to damage the party. He credited Ajit Pawar with working tirelessly to build the NCP’s organisational base across Maharashtra.

He also rejected the possibility of a party split, maintaining that the NCP’s leaders and workers remained with Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who succeeded her husband as the party’s leader, and her family. Kokate did not name any particular leaders while making his remarks.

NCP Leaders’ Meeting with Amit Shah Fuels Rift Speculation

The comments came two days after a group of NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, triggering speculation about possible differences within the party.

The meeting took place after the NCP failed to win a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. However, the party denied reports of internal turmoil, describing the meeting as a pre-arranged formal engagement.

The delegation met Shah without Sunetra Pawar and her son, Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar, prompting questions about coordination within the party leadership.

An NCP leader who attended the meeting said the delegation expressed dissatisfaction with the way Sunetra and Parth Pawar were managing the organisation. The leader also clarified that discussions about a possible merger with the Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) were not the focus of the meeting.

Sunetra and Parth Pawar Oppose Merger with NCP-SP

Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar are opposed to a merger with the NCP-SP, which is part of the Congress-led Opposition bloc.

A week before the delegation’s meeting, Sunetra and Parth had met Amit Shah in Delhi and communicated their opposition to a merger. The issue has remained a point of political discussion amid speculation about the future direction of the NCP.

Leadership Changes Add to Internal Differences Speculation

Reports of a possible rift within the NCP began after Sunetra Pawar took charge as party president in February, following Ajit Pawar’s death.

Some of her subsequent organisational decisions attracted attention, particularly the removal of Praful Patel as national working president and Sunil Tatkare as Maharashtra state president.

Sunetra Pawar later clarified that the omissions were inadvertent. However, the organisational changes were not reversed, adding to speculation about differences within the party.

NCP Denies Reports of Leadership Crisis

On Monday, the NCP issued a statement rejecting reports of internal differences, describing them as incorrect, baseless and misleading.

Party leader Umesh Patil said Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar had earlier met Amit Shah to discuss issues facing the organisation following Ajit Pawar’s death. According to the party, Sunetra informed Shah that a delegation of senior NCP leaders would meet him and requested an appointment for them.

The party said the delegation discussed issues concerning the leaders’ respective constituencies, matters related to Maharashtra and organisational concerns.

“Attempts are being made to give an unnecessary political twist to the meeting and create a narrative of internal differences and lack of coordination within the party,” the NCP statement said.

The party also alleged that certain forces were attempting to create an artificial narrative of a leadership crisis. It urged the media not to present speculation about internal differences as established fact.

Ajit Pawar’s Legacy at the Centre of NCP Leadership Debate

The latest remarks highlight the political sensitivities surrounding the NCP’s leadership after Ajit Pawar’s death. While Kokate has publicly backed Sunetra Pawar and her family, reports of dissatisfaction among some party leaders have continued to fuel questions about organisational coordination.

The NCP leadership has denied any split or leadership crisis, maintaining that the recent meeting with Amit Shah was part of its regular political and organisational engagement.