Reports of my appointment as NCP National President are baseless: Praful Patel

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Praful Patel on Sunday dismissed reports claiming that he had been appointed the party’s national president, calling them baseless and untrue.

“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 said in a post on X.

Patel’s clarification came after remarks made by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in an interview to PTI. Emphasising the party’s democratic functioning, Patel said any decision of such significance would be taken only after consultations with senior leaders, legislators and party office-bearers, while respecting the collective will and sentiments of party members.

“The Nationalist Congress Party is a democratic institution. Being a national party, we follow an established process in such matters,” he stated.

Subsequently, Goyal acknowledged that his earlier remarks were based on incorrect information. In a post on X, he said a senior journalist had wrongly informed him that Praful Patel had been elected NCP president, following which he made statements without verification.

“Later it came to light that the information was incorrect and that the Nationalist Congress Party continues to function under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajitdada Pawar. I express my regret for the misleading information,” Goyal said.

I have noted 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.

​The Nationalist Congress Party is a… — Praful Patel (@praful_patel) February 1, 2026

Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare told PTI that the party would follow due procedure and take into account the sentiments of workers, office-bearers and leaders before taking any decision on leadership. 

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray commented on the leadership issue within the NCP, saying a party “rooted in Marathi soil” should be led by someone reflecting that identity. In a post on X, Thackeray remarked that the NCP’s working president should be a “proper Marathi person”, a comment widely seen as a veiled reference to Patel.

The remarks come amid uncertainty over the NCP’s top organisational posts following the death of party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. 

(With PTI inputs)