NCP (Ajit Pawar) national executive row: Stalwarts sidelined, Pawar family elevated
Synopsis
The NCP-Ajit Pawar Group's new National Executive list has set off a political firestorm — veteran heavyweights Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Sunil Tatkare were conspicuously absent while the Pawar family took centre stage. A hasty 'technical error' clarification has done little to silence analysts who see a deliberate generational power shift underway.
Key Takeaways
The NCP (Ajit Pawar Group) submitted a new National Executive list to the ECI dated 29 April , triggering political controversy.
Stalwarts Praful Patel , Chhagan Bhujbal , Sunil Tatkare , and Dilip Walse Patil were initially missing from the list.
Sunetra Pawar was named National President ; sons Parth Pawar and Jai Pawar assigned key national roles.
Sunetra Pawar attributed the omissions to a
Significant political turmoil has gripped the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) — Ajit Pawar Group after the release of its new National Executive list, submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and dated 29 April, which appeared to sideline veteran heavyweights in favour of the next generation of the Pawar family. The development has intensified political discussions across Maharashtra and beyond.
Key Omissions That Sparked the Row
Eyebrows were raised immediately when the names of prominent party stalwarts — Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil — were found missing from the executive list. Notably, Tatkare, who previously served as National General Secretary, and Patel, a long-trusted veteran of the party, were conspicuously absent, triggering immediate speculation about an internal purge or a major strategic realignment within the faction.
The list, as it circulated on social media, named Sunetra Pawar as National President, her elder son and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar as National General Secretary, and younger son Jai Pawar as National Secretary — a configuration that critics described as a consolidation of family control over the party's national structure.
Sunetra Pawar Calls It a Technical Error
As the list went viral, Sunetra Pawar moved swiftly to contain the controversy. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she clarified that the omissions were unintentional.
Point of View
Read in full, reveals a deliberate reconfiguration: loyalists retained in titular roles stripped of real authority, and the Pawar family occupying the commanding heights. The episode also exposes a deeper tension within the faction — it needs veteran credibility to survive electorally in Maharashtra, yet the leadership appears determined to consolidate dynastic control at the national level. That contradiction will not resolve itself through a corrected letter to the Election Commission.
NationPress
13 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the controversy over the NCP Ajit Pawar Group's national executive list?
The NCP (Ajit Pawar Group) submitted a new National Executive list to the Election Commission of India dated 29 April, which omitted prominent stalwarts including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil. The list elevated Sunetra Pawar as National President and her sons Parth and Jai Pawar to key national roles, sparking allegations of a family takeover.
How did Sunetra Pawar respond to the controversy?
Sunetra Pawar posted on X clarifying that the omissions were due to a 'technical error' and that corrections would be made. A follow-up letter was reportedly sent to the Election Commission on the same day to rectify the clerical mistakes.
What roles have been assigned to Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare in the new structure?
Praful Patel has been inducted into the National Working Committee as NCP leader in Rajya Sabha, but without the title of National Working President. Sunil Tatkare has been designated NCP leader in Lok Sabha, no longer holding his earlier role as National General Secretary or Maharashtra unit President.
Who else has been included or excluded from the new NCP national structure?
Former agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate and legislators Chetan Tupe, Shekhar Nikam, Sana Malik, and Saroj Ahire are included as members. Former general secretary Avinash Adik has been demoted to national secretary. Former chief spokesperson Brijmohan Shrivastav has been excluded from both the National Executive and National Working Committee.
What does Sunetra Pawar's latest post on X suggest about Praful Patel's status?
In a subsequent post on X from Guwahati, Sunetra Pawar referred to Praful Patel as 'National Working President and MP of the NCP,' suggesting his title may be restored in a corrected submission to the Election Commission.
