ECI notices NCP's Sunetra Pawar over missing constitution amendment papers
Synopsis
The Election Commission has put NCP president Sunetra Pawar on notice for failing to submit resolutions backing five key constitutional amendments — exposing a procedural gap at the heart of a leadership transition that was already contested. With competing authority claims on record and a party activist's challenge pending, the ECI's scrutiny could determine whether the current NCP leadership holds regulatory legitimacy.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India issued a notice to NCP president Sunetra Pawar on 27 July 2026 , seeking missing documentation for party constitution amendments.
Amendments to Articles 6, 7, 12, 32 and 36 lack formal resolutions in the compliance documents submitted to the ECI.
Only the resolution covering Article 18(i) , passed at the 26 February 2026 National Executive meeting, was on record with the Commission.
Sunetra Pawar was elected NCP national president on 26 February 2026 , following the death of Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026 .
Senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had earlier submitted a separate letter on 16 February 2026 granting Patel operational powers as working president — a communication Sunetra Pawar subsequently sought to nullify.
Party functionaries confirmed receipt of the ECI notice and said a reply would follow consultations with Sunetra Pawar.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a formal notice to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar, demanding valid documentation and resolutions backing amendments made to the party's constitution. The directive, dated 27 July 2026, puts the NCP leadership under fresh regulatory pressure over the procedural legitimacy of changes pushed through following a turbulent leadership transition.
What the ECI Found Missing
According to the Commission, communications sent by Sunetra Pawar on 10 March and 7 April 2026 notified the ECI of modifications to Articles 6, 7, 12, 18(i), 32 and 36 of the NCP's party constitution. However, a regulatory review found that the compliance documents submitted covered only the resolution passed at the National Executive meeting on 26 February 2026 — and that resolution pertained exclusively to Article 18(i).
Formal proposals and resolutions supporting the changes to Articles 6, 7, 12, 32 and 36 were not received by the Commission. The ECI has directed the NCP to furnish the missing supporting documents at the earliest to satisfy regulatory requirements.
Party's Response
Party functionaries confirmed receipt of the ECI's notice and indicated that a formal reply would be sent after internal consultations with Sunetra Pawar. No timeline for the response was specified.
Background: A Disputed Leadership Transition
The organisational changes at the centre of the dispute stem from the split in the original NCP and the subsequent death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a fatal aircraft crash near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026. Following his death, the NCP convened a National Executive convention in Mumbai on 26 February 2026, where Sunetra Pawar was elected national president alongside amendments to multiple articles of the party constitution.
However, as early as 16 February 2026, senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had submitted a letter to the ECI amending party rules to grant operational powers to Patel as working president — a move that preceded Sunetra Pawar's formal election. On 28 February, Sunetra Pawar wrote to the Commission requesting that all decisions and communications submitted between Ajit Pawar's death and her elevation — specifically the 16 February letter — be declared null and void. On 10 March, she formally communicated her status as national president to the ECI, outlining updated office-bearers while excluding roles claimed by the interim leadership.
Wider Legal and Internal Scrutiny
The ECI's inquiry follows an earlier challenge by a party activist who alleged that Sunetra Pawar's election as national president did not strictly adhere to the party's constitutional provisions. The Commission has noted that competing communications were sent to it regarding party authority and constitutional amendments — a signal that the internal dispute over the NCP's legitimate leadership structure remains unresolved.
The ECI's observations have intensified both internal and legal scrutiny surrounding the validity of decisions taken by the current NCP leadership. How the Commission rules on the documentation gap could have direct bearing on the party's recognised status and its ability to contest future elections under the NCP banner.
Point of View
And Sunetra Pawar's request to nullify it remains unresolved. If the Commission finds the amendment process procedurally deficient, it could revisit the legitimacy of the current leadership's decisions — a scenario with direct electoral implications for a party still navigating a post-split identity.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the ECI issued a notice to Sunetra Pawar?
The Election Commission issued a notice to NCP president Sunetra Pawar on 27 July 2026 because the compliance documents submitted to it contained resolutions for only one of the six amended articles — Article 18(i). Formal resolutions backing changes to Articles 6, 7, 12, 32 and 36 were not on record with the Commission.
Which articles of the NCP constitution are under scrutiny?
The ECI is seeking documentation for amendments to Articles 6, 7, 12, 32 and 36 of the NCP's party constitution. These changes were communicated to the Commission by Sunetra Pawar on 10 March and 7 April 2026, but supporting resolutions were not submitted alongside.
How did Sunetra Pawar become NCP national president?
Sunetra Pawar was elected NCP national president at a National Executive convention in Mumbai on 26 February 2026, following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026. Her election has since been challenged by a party activist on procedural grounds.
What is the dispute over the 16 February 2026 letter?
On 16 February 2026, senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare submitted a letter to the ECI amending party rules to grant Patel operational powers as working president. Sunetra Pawar subsequently wrote to the Commission on 28 February requesting that this letter, along with all other communications between Ajit Pawar's death and her election, be declared null and void.
What are the implications of the ECI's notice for the NCP?
The ECI's notice intensifies regulatory and legal scrutiny over the validity of decisions taken by the NCP's current leadership. If the Commission finds the amendment process procedurally deficient, it could affect the recognised status of the current leadership and have broader electoral consequences for the party.
