Blurb
The absence of names such as Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil led to speculation
Mumbai
Political uncertainty has intensified within the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar after the release of a new National Executive list submitted to the Election Commission of India.
The controversy began after a three-page document detailing the party’s new organisational structure surfaced in the public domain. The list, dated April 29, appeared to omit several veteran leaders who have long been considered influential figures within the party.
The absence of names such as Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil from the main National Executive immediately led to speculation about possible restructuring and internal power shifts.
The newly-formed National Executive placed Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar in the role of National President. Their elder son, Rajya Sabha member Parth Pawar, was named National General Secretary, while younger son Jai Pawar was appointed National Secretary. The prominent inclusion of the Pawar family members fueled discussions regarding generational transition within the party leadership.
The exclusion of senior leader Sunil Tatkare from the position of National General Secretary attracted particular attention. Tatkare had previously held a crucial organisational role and is considered one of the party’s prominent faces in Maharashtra politics.
Similarly, Praful Patel, regarded as one of the party’s most trusted senior leaders, was not listed as National Working President, leading to further speculation about a possible strategic realignment.
As criticism and debate intensified on social media, Sunetra Pawar issued a clarification on the platform X, stating that the circulated list contained technical and clerical errors. She assured party workers and supporters that the mistakes would soon be corrected. Sources later indicated that a follow-up communication had been sent to the Election Commission on the same day seeking corrections to the submitted documents.
Despite the clarification, political observers believe the development may reflect the party’s long-term intention to promote younger leadership within the organisation. Analysts noted that while senior leaders were not completely removed, their roles appeared significantly reduced compared to earlier positions.
Another section of the document detailed the formation of a National Working Committee headed by Sunetra Pawar. In this committee, Praful Patel was included as the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha, though without the earlier designation of National Working President. Sunil Tatkare was listed as the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha but was no longer identified as National General Secretary or Maharashtra unit president.
Veteran minister Chhagan Bhujbal and senior legislator Dilip Walse Patil were also included in the committee, although no official responsibilities were assigned to them. Shivajirao Garje was appointed National Treasurer, while Parth Pawar and former Union Minister Subodh Mohite were entrusted with the role of General Secretary.
