NCP MLAs flag internal strife, stalled work at Sunetra Pawar meeting
Synopsis
More than 20 NCP legislators confronted their own top brass at Sunetra Pawar's Mumbai residence, warning that senior-level disputes are leaving grassroots workers in the dark and that BJP's dominance within Mahayuti is stalling their constituency work — with one MLA warning the party could lose in 2029 if nothing changes.
Key Takeaways
More than 20 NCP MLAs attended a meeting at Sunetra Pawar 's residence in Mumbai on 3 November 2026 .
Legislators including Makarand Patil , Anil Bhaidas Patil , and Sangram Jagtap raised concerns about senior-level internal friction weakening the party.
A majority of MLAs, including Sunil Shelke , complained that constituency work is being stalled under departments controlled by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde .
Makarand Patil alleged BJP bypassed NCP and Shiv Sena in the Satara Zilla Parishad elections.
MLA Hiraman Khosksar warned of defeat in the 2029 assembly polls if NCP continues to receive unequal fund allocation.
State President Sunil Tatkare assured legislators that internal conflict concerns would be resolved at a forthcoming senior leadership meeting.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislators of the Ajit Pawar faction on Tuesday, 3 November openly aired grievances about internal conflicts and stalled constituency work at a meeting convened at the Mumbai residence of party National President and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. The session, attended by more than 20 MLAs and senior leaders, laid bare mounting tensions within the ruling Mahayuti coalition partner.
Who Was in the Room
The gathering brought together National Working President Praful Patel, State President Sunil Tatkare, senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and MLAs including Pratap Chikhalikar and Dilip Walse Patil. The meeting followed a Monday core committee session focused on organisational building, and came days after senior NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to complain about the unilateral functioning of party MP Parth Pawar and a lack of coordination within the leadership.
Internal Conflicts Brought Into the Open
Party minister Makarand Patil and legislators Anil Bhaidas Patil and Sangram Jagtap directly raised the issue of senior-level friction, arguing that the absence of visible unity is weakening the party at the ground level. Some legislators pointed out that continuous reports of leadership disputes have left grassroots workers completely unaware of what is unfolding at the top. Anil Bhaidas Patil also put forward a demand that the party make concerted efforts to reclaim the crucial Finance portfolio.
Complaints Against Alliance Partners
Several MLAs trained their fire on their own coalition allies. A majority of legislators, including Sunil Shelke, complained that constituency development work was not being processed or approved under departments managed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Makarand Patil cited BJP's dominance and alleged efforts to sideline allies, recounting how the BJP bypassed NCP and Shiv Sena in the Satara Zilla Parishad elections. He noted that the NCP and Shiv Sena consequently joined hands in the just-concluded Satara District Central Co-operative Bank elections against BJP. MLA Saroj Ahire claimed that BJP and the Nashik district administration were keeping her out of the loop during implementation of works for the Sinhasth Kumbh Mela.
2029 Warning and Drought Directive
MLA Hiraman Khosksar issued a pointed warning, arguing that if the NCP continues to receive what he described as 'stepmotherly treatment' in fund allocation, the party will face defeat in the 2029 assembly elections. On a separate front, State President Sunil Tatkare directed all MLAs to visit drought-affected areas across Maharashtra, understand farmers' grievances, and pursue government assistance on their behalf.
Leadership Response and What Comes Next
State President Tatkare assured the legislators that the concerns raised — particularly those around internal conflicts — would be taken up and resolved at a dedicated meeting of the party's senior leadership. Sunetra Pawar called on legislators and MPs to work together to strengthen the party organisation. This comes amid broader questions about the NCP faction's leverage within Mahayuti and whether its grievances will translate into a formal renegotiation of portfolio and project responsibilities. How the senior leadership responds in its next meeting will signal whether Tuesday's frank session marks the beginning of a course correction or remains another round of unresolved discontent.
Point of View
Leaving the NCP as a junior partner in name and practice. The Satara Zilla Parishad episode — where BJP reportedly bypassed both NCP and Shiv Sena — points to a pattern that will be difficult to reverse without a formal renegotiation. The 2029 warning from MLA Khosksar is not hyperbole; a ruling party whose legislators cannot deliver visible development gains at home is a party that hands the opposition a ready-made campaign plank.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did NCP MLAs hold a meeting at Sunetra Pawar's residence on 3 November?
The meeting was called to address growing concerns about internal conflicts within the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) and stalled constituency development work. It followed a Monday core committee session on organisational building and reports of senior leaders meeting Home Minister Amit Shah to complain about unilateral functioning by party MP Parth Pawar.
What specific complaints did NCP MLAs raise about Eknath Shinde?
A majority of MLAs, including Sunil Shelke, complained that their constituency development projects were not being processed or approved under departments controlled by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. MLAs reiterated that despite being a ruling coalition partner, their developmental work was effectively stalling due to these bottlenecks.
What did NCP leaders allege about BJP within the Mahayuti coalition?
Minister Makarand Patil alleged that BJP was dominating the coalition and actively weakening its allies. He cited the Satara Zilla Parishad elections, where he claimed BJP bypassed both NCP and Shiv Sena, prompting the two parties to contest the subsequent Satara District Central Co-operative Bank elections jointly against BJP.
What was the warning about the 2029 assembly elections?
MLA Hiraman Khosksar warned that if the NCP continues to receive what he called stepmotherly treatment in the allocation of funds, the party will face defeat in the 2029 Maharashtra assembly polls. The remark reflects broader MLA anxiety about being unable to show development results in their constituencies.
How did the NCP leadership respond to the grievances raised?
State President Sunil Tatkare assured legislators that concerns about internal conflicts would be discussed and resolved at a dedicated senior leadership meeting. Party president and DCM Sunetra Pawar urged all legislators and MPs to work together to strengthen the party organisation.
