A fierce internal revolt rocked the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Pune on Monday, 1 June, as senior loyalists openly challenged the leadership's decision to field Vikram Kakade in the upcoming Pune Local Authorities Constituency Legislative Council election scheduled for 18 June. The crisis erupted on the last day for filing nominations, exposing deep fractures within Ajit Pawar's faction of the party.

How the Crisis Unfolded

Though Vikram Kakade's name had been finalised on Sunday night, Monday brought an immediate backlash. A tense two-hour meeting at the 'Jijai' residence — attended by Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar — concluded with Kakade's candidature officially confirmed. Kakade and his father, former MP Sanjay Kakade, formally joined the NCP before the announcement, but the induction only deepened the anger among veteran party workers.

Loyalists Speak Out

Former MLA Vilas Lande, one of the leading ticket aspirants, launched a scathing public attack on the party's functioning. Adding a personal dimension, 1 June was Lande's birthday — he and his supporters had reportedly expected the ticket as a symbolic 'birthday gift' from the leadership. 'Vikram Kakade has been given this candidature solely because of his financial muscle. We have no idea which mine the party leadership dug out this 'gem' from! If Ajit Dada were around today, he would have given this opportunity to a loyal and hardworking party worker. In Dada's absence, we feel completely helpless,' Lande said.

State Vice President Suresh Ghule broke down in tears before the media, saying he had dedicated his entire life to the party. 'Sanjay Kakade broke our party back in 2017, and today, his son is being rewarded with a ticket. The party should have definitely considered my loyalty,' Ghule said, adding that he intended to raise his grievances directly with Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar.

Tingre's Parallel Nomination Stuns Party

The drama escalated further when former MLA Sunil Tingre, a close associate of the late Ajit Pawar and a frontrunner for the seat, abruptly walked out of the high-level meeting at the 'Jijai' bungalow before the official induction ceremony. Though Tingre initially told reporters he was leaving to prepare the party office for senior members, he instead began filing his own nomination papers for the Vidhan Parishad seat.

In an unprecedented scene at the Pune NCP headquarters, official candidate Vikram Kakade and rebel hopeful Sunil Tingre sat directly across from each other, simultaneously filing their nomination forms. Party workers traded barbs as veteran loyalists openly confronted Kakade over his swift induction.

Parth Pawar's Shadow Over the Decision

Insiders revealed that Vikram Kakade is a close confidant of Parth Pawar, who had reportedly promised him the Pune legislative council seat. The speed of Kakade's induction and immediate candidature sent a clear signal within party ranks that Parth Pawar holds decisive influence over local candidate selection — a development that critics argue sidelines workers who built the party's grassroots base.

Threat to Mahayuti Alliance

With the NCP having secured both the Pune and Raigad seats under the Mahayuti alliance's seat-sharing formula, the Pune seat was widely expected to be uncontested within the alliance. The simultaneous rebellions by Lande, Ghule, and Tingre have severely dented party discipline and raised the imminent threat of cross-voting. This internal friction poses a significant challenge for the ruling Mahayuti alliance ahead of the 18 June poll. How the NCP leadership manages these open wounds in the coming days will determine whether the seat remains secure.