Praful Patel dismisses legal challenge to Sunetra Pawar's NCP presidency
Synopsis
A legal notice questioning Sunetra Pawar's appointment as NCP chief has cracked open the party's factional tensions — just months after she inherited the top post following Ajit Pawar's death. Praful Patel's denial of involvement has done little to quiet speculation that the challenge may have backing from within the NCP's own high command.
Key Takeaways
Praful Patel on 14 July dismissed a legal notice challenging Sunetra Pawar 's appointment as NCP National President , calling her selection fully constitutional.
Former NCP National Secretary Sachidanand Singh served the legal notice on 9 July , demanding her elevation be declared invalid and a fresh election held.
Singh was dropped from the NCP executive committee announced on 26 February 2026 — the same day Sunetra Pawar's appointment was formalised.
Patel acknowledged that Ajit Pawar 's death has left a 'massive void' requiring internal reforms, but separated this view from the legal challenge.
Factional tensions between veterans Patel and Tatkare on one side, and Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar on the other, have been simmering since early 2026 .
Disciplinary committee chief Jay Pawar is expected to determine how the complaint will be handled.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel on Tuesday, 14 July moved to defuse a legal challenge to Sunetra Pawar's appointment as the party's National President, insisting her election was conducted in full compliance with the party constitution. The controversy follows a legal notice served by former NCP National Secretary Sachidanand Singh on 9 July, demanding that her elevation be declared invalid and a fresh election held.
Patel's Response to the Legal Notice
Distancing himself from the challenge, Patel was categorical in his denial of any involvement. 'I have absolutely no connection with the notice sent to Sunetra Pawar, and there is no reason to give it much weight,' he said, adding that 'her selection was completely in line with the party's rules.'
However, Patel did acknowledge that the party faces a structural vacuum following the death of its former chief. 'Ajit Pawar's demise has left a massive void in the party that urgently needs to be filled,' he said, while clarifying that his personal views on internal reforms were entirely separate from the legal notice. Patel was expected to meet Sunetra Pawar the same evening to discuss the path forward.
Who Is Sachidanand Singh
Sachidanand Singh is a veteran NCP organisational figure who has been associated with the party for over 15 years. He currently serves as the Jharkhand State President of the NCP and was appointed National Secretary by the late Ajit Pawar at the party's Karjat conclave in December 2023. Notably, Singh was dropped from the newly constituted executive committee announced on 26 February 2026 — the same meeting at which Patel formally announced Sunetra Pawar's appointment as National President.
Party insiders have expressed scepticism about whether Singh acted independently, with senior leaders reportedly investigating whether a rival faction within the high command orchestrated the challenge to undermine Sunetra Pawar's authority.
The Factional Fault Lines
This development is widely read as the latest episode in a simmering power struggle within the NCP. Speculation has long circulated about a divide pitting veterans Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare against Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar.
Tensions had already surfaced earlier this year over correspondence with the Election Commission of India (ECI). In March, Sunetra Pawar abruptly cancelled an official letter that Patel had sent to the ECI in February. A subsequent communication released on 29 April designated Patel as leader of the Rajya Sabha wing and Tatkare as leader of the Lok Sabha wing — but four months on, the party has yet to clarify whether a revised letter was ever formally submitted to the ECI.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on Jay Pawar, chief of the party's disciplinary committee, to determine how the complaint will be processed. Camps close to the National President are reportedly conducting their own inquiry into whether senior leaders were behind the legal move. The challenge comes just months after Sunetra Pawar — wife of the late Ajit Pawar — was handed the party's top post, and its handling will test the NCP's ability to project unity ahead of future electoral cycles in Maharashtra.
Point of View
Not just a party spokesperson's rebuttal. The timing is significant: Singh was removed from the executive committee on the very day Sunetra Pawar's presidency was formalised, giving the challenge a plausible personal motive — but that does not rule out factional orchestration. The unresolved ECI correspondence from February-April is the more consequential thread: it signals that the NCP's leadership hierarchy remains formally unsettled, which is a structural vulnerability that any internal challenger can exploit. How Jay Pawar handles the disciplinary process will reveal whether the NCP can enforce internal discipline or whether its post-Ajit Pawar transition is headed for a prolonged, public unravelling.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Sunetra Pawar's appointment as NCP chief been legally challenged?
Former NCP National Secretary Sachidanand Singh served a legal notice on 9 July claiming that Sunetra Pawar's elevation to National President violates the party constitution, and demanding a fresh election. Singh was dropped from the NCP's executive committee on 26 February 2026, the same day her appointment was announced.
What did Praful Patel say about the legal notice?
Patel denied any connection with the notice and said there was 'no reason to give it much weight,' asserting that Sunetra Pawar's selection was 'completely in line with the party's rules.' He did, however, acknowledge that internal structural reforms are needed following Ajit Pawar's death.
Who is Sachidanand Singh and why does his challenge matter?
Sachidanand Singh is a 15-year NCP veteran who serves as the party's Jharkhand State President. He was appointed National Secretary by the late Ajit Pawar at the Karjat conclave in December 2023 but was excluded from the new executive committee in February 2026. His challenge matters because it brings the NCP's internal fault lines into the open just months after Sunetra Pawar assumed leadership.
What is the factional divide within the NCP?
Speculation has long circulated about a split between veterans Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare on one side, and Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar on the other. Tensions became visible in early 2026 when Sunetra Pawar cancelled an official letter Patel had sent to the Election Commission of India, and the party's official designations have remained ambiguous since.
What happens next in the NCP leadership dispute?
Jay Pawar, chief of the NCP's disciplinary committee, is expected to decide how the legal complaint is processed. Camps aligned with Sunetra Pawar are also reportedly investigating whether senior leaders backed the challenge. Patel was scheduled to meet Sunetra Pawar on the evening of 14 July to discuss the way forward.
