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EYE ON INDIA NOVEMBER 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 6

NCP faces internal crisis as Leadership

vacuum, factional tensions deepen

Six senior leaders meet Amit Shah over Maharashtra Finance portfolio as Sunetra Pawar’s absence

raises questions about party leadership; Sharad Pawar’s hospitalisation adds to uncertainty

surrounding the divided party.

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai / New Delhi
he Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP) appears to be heading
Tinto another period of political
uncertainty, with questions over its
leadership, internal differences and
bargaining power within Maharash-
tra’s ruling coalition coming to the
fore. A meeting between six senior
party leaders and Union Home Min-
ister Amit Shah in New Delhi, the
absence of key members of the Pawar
family from the delegation and re-
newed criticism from the Opposition
have fuelled speculation about the
party’s internal state.
The latest developments have ex-
posed the challenges confronting the
NCP following the death of its presi-
dent and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Six leaders from the NCP Ajit Pawar faction-Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dilip Walse
Minister Ajit Pawar. While the party Patil meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi (ANI Photo)
has sought to project unity under Sun-
etra Pawar, its political direction and
leadership structure appear to remain among party leaders and described Pawar retained the NCP (Sharad- mension to the uncertainty. The NCP
unsettled. electoral defeats as an opportunity chandra Pawar) and continued to (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief was
On Monday, six senior NCP for introspection. “There was no rift challenge the BJP-led establishment. admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy
leaders -- Dhananjay Munde, Sunil among us, and whenever there is an The political uncertainty has also Hospital on Wednesday night with a
Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, election, victory and defeat happen. If provided ammunition to the Oppo- respiratory and chest infection, short-
Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Pa- there is a defeat, there is a need for sition. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay ly after being discharged from Pune’s
til -- met Shah in the national capital self-introspection. We will definitely Raut on Tuesday accused Shah of en- Ruby Hall Clinic.
amid discussions over the demand for do self-introspection,” she said. gineering the division within the NCP His doctor, Dr Pratit Samdani,
the Finance Ministry portfolio in Ma- Her remarks came after the NCP to weaken Maharashtra, predicting said on Thursday that the veteran
harashtra to be returned to the NCP. suffered a setback in the Maharashtra that both factions would eventually leader was stable and undergoing
The meeting assumed signifi- Legislative Council elections. Its can- lose their political relevance. “Amit treatment. “Sharad Pawar was admit-
cance because of the absence of Sun- didate, three-time sitting MLC Satish Shah has created two factions (of ted yesterday at Breach Candy Hos-
etra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar. Chavan, lost the Chhatrapati Sam- NCP) to weaken Maharashtra. In the pital for a respiratory and chest infec-
Their absence raised questions about bhajinagar Graduates’ constituency to coming days, both the factions will tion. He is stable and under treatment.
who is steering the party’s political Pratapsinh Patil of the NCP (Sharad- lose their political existence. After He was admitted last night; he had
negotiations and whether the senior chandra Pawar). Ajit Pawar’s, the Nationalist Congress a cough and an infection, something
leadership is operating independently The defeat was particularly em- Party has been left orphaned. This like bronchitis trouble. His treatment
of the Pawar family. barrassing because it highlighted the party belongs solely to Sharad Pawar,” is ongoing, and he is currently stable,”
The demand for the Finance continuing electoral relevance of the Raut said. he said.
portfolio is also politically significant. faction led by veteran politician Sha- Raut’s remarks were politically The central question is whether
It reflects the NCP’s attempt to retain rad Pawar, despite the organisational charged, but they underlined a larger Sunetra Pawar can consolidate au-
its position and influence within the split that followed Ajit Pawar’s deci- question confronting the NCP: wheth- thority over a party whose senior lead-
Maharashtra government, where con- sion to join the BJP-led alliance. er the party can retain an independent ers have their own political ambitions
trol over important ministries is close- The two factions have been com- political identity after its division and and whose organisational strength re-
ly linked to political bargaining power. peting for the political legacy, organi- the loss of one of its most influential mains contested by the Sharad Pawar
Sunetra Pawar, however, had sational machinery and support base leaders. faction. Until that question is settled,
earlier dismissed suggestions of in- of the original NCP. While Ajit Pawar The health of Sharad Pawar, who the NCP is likely to remain vulnerable
ternal divisions. Speaking on Friday, had taken a substantial section of the remains a central figure in Maharash- to internal manoeuvring and external
she maintained that there was no rift party into the ruling alliance, Sharad tra politics, has added another di- political pressure.

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