The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) core committee, chaired by party president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, resolved that its ministers and legislators will collectively approach Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after the Diwali break, pressing for the swift conclusion of the CID investigation into the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on 28 January 2026 near Baramati. The committee also renewed its demand for a CBI inquiry into the case.

What the Core Committee Decided

The meeting resolved on two immediate steps: a collective representation to Fadnavis seeking a firm timeline for the CID probe, and a fresh formal request for the case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Party sources indicated the move was partly driven by a desire to pre-empt NCP(SP) legislator Rohit Pawar, who has repeatedly accused the Fadnavis government of foot-dragging on the investigation.

The core committee separately decided to contest the NCP vs NCP(SP) dispute in the Supreme Court with a panel of senior advocates, reinforcing its legal strategy in what is shaping up to be a prolonged constitutional battle.

Where the CID Probe Stands

The investigation has been progressing, with CID officials reportedly evaluating technical reports and inputs from specialised civil aviation agencies to compile the final probe report. Notably, on 28 October 2026, Jay Pawar — Ajit Pawar's son and NCP MP — visited the CID headquarters in Pune to review progress, requesting clarity on the timeline and pending technical clearance reports while stressing transparency.

The push for a CBI handover is not new. In February 2026, the Maharashtra government formally submitted a recommendation to transfer the case to the CBI, following demands from Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and other senior party leaders. Chief Minister Fadnavis subsequently clarified that while the recommendation stands, the CBI's active criminal or sabotage probe will formally commence only after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) releases its final technical findings — a process that can take up to a year.

The Supreme Court Battle Over NCP's Name and Symbol

The core committee's review of the Supreme Court proceedings underscores how much legal ground the Ajit Pawar faction is simultaneously defending. The Sharad Pawar faction had challenged the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision recognising the Ajit Pawar group as the official NCP and awarding it the original 'Clock' symbol. The Supreme Court issued notice to the Ajit Pawar faction while allowing the dispute to proceed on merits.

Provisionally, the court permitted the Ajit Pawar group to use the 'Clock' symbol in elections, subject to a prominent disclaimer in all campaign materials stating the allocation remains sub-judice. The court granted the Sharad Pawar faction official recognition as 'Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar' (NCP-SP) and allotted it the 'Man Blowing Turha' symbol. Additionally, the court directed the Ajit Pawar faction to refrain from using the photos, name, or videos of founder Sharad Pawar in political campaigns, instructing it to 'stand on their own feet.' The core constitutional question — whether the ECI's application of the majority test within the legislative wing was legally sound — remains pending before a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.

Internal Tensions Overshadow the Meeting

Wednesday's core committee convening was the second in as many days, and notably took place amid simmering tension between the party's veteran leaders and younger functionaries. On Sunday, senior NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and reportedly complained about what they described as the unilateral functioning of MP Parth Pawar and their marginalisation in decision-making. Despite this, the core committee conspicuously avoided formally discussing the internal tussle — an omission that party insiders acknowledged as a deliberate deferral rather than a resolution.

On Tuesday, NCP legislators and ministers had already sounded alarms in a separate meeting, warning that the party appeared to be weakening and that grassroots workers were being left in the dark. The core committee was attended by NCP Working President Praful Patel, Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, former ministers Dilip Walse Patil and Dhananjay Munde, MP Parth Pawar, and youth leader Jay Pawar.

With the AAIB report still pending and internal cohesion under strain, how the NCP navigates the next few weeks — in both the courts and within its own ranks — will be closely watched.