The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is facing deepening internal turbulence following the demise of Ajit Pawar, with former NCP National General Secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav on Tuesday, 14 July asserting that a critical communication breakdown has paralysed the party's functioning since leadership passed to Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar's widow and now Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP National President.

Legal Notice That Triggered the Storm

The simmering discontent broke into the open on Monday, 13 July, when former NCP National Secretary Sachidanand Singh issued a legal notice challenging the process by which Sunetra Pawar was appointed National President. The move sent shockwaves through political circles, raising immediate questions about whether national-level office-bearers were mounting a coordinated challenge to her leadership.

Notably, Shrivastav himself was among those dropped when Sunetra Pawar reconstituted the national executive council and national working committee on 29 April this year, removing him from his position as General Secretary.

What Shrivastav Said

Addressing the crisis on Tuesday, Shrivastav offered a measured but pointed assessment. He said, 'Sachidanand Singh had written a letter to me and we spoke as well, but I could not satisfy his queries. Due to a complete lack of communication within the party, I did not receive any answers myself, which is why I couldn't respond to him. The objection raised by Sachidanand Singh regarding Sunetra Pawar's appointment as National President is legally valid.'

He was careful to clarify that the dissent is not directed at Sunetra Pawar personally. 'While everyone accepts Sunetra Pawar as the National President and no one opposes her leadership, the demand is simply that her election must strictly follow the party's constitution. Sachidanand Singh is a responsible office-bearer, and his demand is just. I tried to discuss this with senior leaders, but I received no positive response, and no one showed any real interest,' he added.

The Ajit Pawar Vacuum

Shrivastav underscored that the structural void left by Ajit Pawar's passing goes far beyond a symbolic leadership gap. 'Multiple shortcomings have surfaced at various levels in the party after Ajit Pawar's demise. No one can truly replace Ajit Pawar. The way he ran both the party organisation and the government was extraordinary and incomparable,' he said.

He warned that the absence of regular dialogue — a hallmark of Ajit Pawar's style — has ground internal communications to a halt. 'The constant discussions and interactions among workers and office-bearers have completely ground to a halt after Ajit Dada's passing, leading to widespread unrest,' Shrivastav stated.

Fault Lines at the Top

Shrivastav's most striking allegation concerned the topmost tier of the party. He claimed that the communication breakdown is visible even among the three senior-most figures: Sunetra Pawar, NCP chief Sunil Tatkare, and senior leader Praful Patel. 'There is currently a visible lack of communication even among Sunetra Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, and Praful Patel. This is precisely why the questions we raised have remained unanswered,' he said.

He also took aim at newly inducted executive committee members, arguing they operate under the mistaken belief that the party runs on 'autopilot'. 'Running an organisation is not that simple — it requires constant dialogue. The new inductees must understand this, as should those currently managing the party,' he said.

What Comes Next

The legal notice from Sachidanand Singh is expected to force the party to address procedural questions around Sunetra Pawar's appointment, potentially requiring the NCP to demonstrate constitutional compliance. With grassroots unrest compounding leadership-level friction, the party faces pressure to establish clear communication channels before discontent hardens into a formal factional split.