Rohit Pawar Writes To EC Claiming NCP Takeover Attempt By Party Leaders
Rohit Pawar alleges NCP takeover attempt after Ajit Pawar.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar has accused senior party figures Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare of attempting to seize control of the party following the death of Ajit Pawar, alleging they wrote to the Election Commission to stake their claim. Rohit Pawar, nephew of the late Ajit Pawar and a key figure in the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), made these remarks amid ongoing power struggles within the fractured party.
Ajit Pawar, the NCP national president and Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, died in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28, 2026, triggering a leadership vacuum and halting advanced merger talks between the two NCP factions. Rohit Pawar's allegations point to Patel, the working president, and Tatkare, the state president, as maneuvering swiftly post-tragedy to consolidate power.
Praful Patel has categorically denied any such moves, dismissing reports of his elevation to party president as "totally baseless and factually incorrect." In a statement on X, he emphasized that NCP decisions follow democratic procedures involving consultations with MLAs, office-bearers, and members, respecting Ajit Pawar's legacy. Sunil Tatkare echoed this, affirming the party's commitment to the NDA alliance and rejecting merger rumors with the Sharad Pawar group. These rebuttals come after Union Minister Piyush Goyal's erroneous claim of Patel's appointment, which he later retracted.
The controversy intensifies internal rifts, with Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, elected as NCP legislature party leader and sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister shortly after the crash. Party sources indicate resistance to a merger, viewing Sunetra's rapid rise as a strategy to retain control within the Ajit Pawar faction. Sharad Pawar, NCP (SCP) Chief, noted that unity processes were underway before the "unfortunate accident," but speculation now swirls around family loyalties and strategic positioning.
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This episode underscores the NCP's turbulent history since its 2023 split, where Ajit Pawar's group aligned with the BJP-led Maharashtra government. Rohit Pawar's public targeting of Patel and Tatkare, highlighted in recent media analyses, raises questions about hidden agendas and the late leader's plane crash circumstances. As Maharashtra politics braces for further drama, the Election Commission's role could prove pivotal in resolving leadership disputes.
Observers anticipate heightened tensions ahead of organizational elections, with the Pawar family's influence—spanning Supriya Sule and Jay Pawar—likely to shape outcomes. Stakeholders urge restraint during the mourning period, but the battle for NCP's soul reflects broader realignments in India's regional politics.
Also Read: Sunetra Pawar Unanimously Elected NCP National President Post-Ajit Pawar Demise
