NCP office-bearers urge party to appoint Sunetra Pawar as national president

More than 30 senior office-bearers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have written to the party’s working president Praful Patel and State President Sunil Tatkare, urging them to appoint Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as the party’s national president.

In the letter, the signatories expressed unanimous support for Sunetra Pawar’s elevation, citing the need for decisive leadership at the national level. They appealed to the party leadership to consider the proposal in the larger interest of the Nationalist Congress Party and its organisational strengthening.

Not appointed as NCP chief: Praful Patel

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday appeared questioning NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar`s claim on the merger discussions initiated by NCP leader Ajit Pawar, asserting that if that is the case, the late Deputy CM would have shared details with him.

Separately, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Praful Patel has termed as baseless reports that he has been appointed as the party`s national president.

A day after late Ajit Pawar`s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in as Deputy CM and elected the NCP legislative party leader, Patel emphasised that a decision on picking the national president will only be made by consulting senior leadership, MLAs, office-bearers, and party members.

Sharad Pawar on Saturday said his nephew Ajit Pawar had finalised February 12 to announce the "merger" between the NCP factions; however, the process may face a roadblock due to the latter`s death in a plane crash.

On Sunday, Fadnavis told reporters that Ajit Pawar shared everything with him.

"Can the merger talks be finalised without our knowledge? We are not aware of the February 12 date being claimed as the date for the formal announcement of the merger," he said.

The NCP is an independent party that takes its own decisions, but as a BJP ally, it is expected to consult the party before moving ahead, the CM said.

Meanwhile, NCP working president Praful Patel stated on X: "I have noted a few reports circulating in the media regarding my appointment as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party. I wish to state with absolute clarity that these reports are totally baseless and lack any truth."

Patel`s statement came after remarks by Union minister Piyush Goyal in an interview with PTI.