Sharad Pawar: NCP leadership may see Praful Patel, Tatkare differently
Synopsis
Maharashtra's ruling NCP is fracturing from within — two of its most experienced leaders, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, have been quietly dropped from the party's national executive list, while a senior spokesperson has quit over a Rajya Sabha snub. Sharad Pawar's pointed defence of the sidelined duo signals that the NCP's internal war of succession is far from over.
Key Takeaways
Sharad Pawar on 14 May said the NCP leadership may have a 'different assessment' of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare , whom he vouched for as capable leaders.
Sunetra Pawar's letter to the ECI omitted both leaders from the NCP's national executive — widely seen as a move to sideline them.
Former Lok Sabha MP Anand Paranjape resigned from the NCP, reportedly after being passed over for a Rajya Sabha nomination; he is now reportedly in contact with Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde .
Sharad Pawar demanded a national all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister , noting the PM had skipped all such meetings in the past three to four years.
Pawar criticised CM Devendra Fadnavis for calling Rahul Gandhi a 'rejected commodity', calling it inappropriate language for a constitutional post.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday, 14 May defended the capabilities of his former colleagues Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, while acknowledging that the current leadership of the rival NCP faction may hold a different view of the two senior leaders. The remarks came amid a fresh bout of infighting within the ruling NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
The Omission That Sparked the Row
The controversy centres on a letter sent by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India (ECI), in which both Patel and Tatkare were notably absent from the party's national executive list. Political observers are reading the move as a deliberate attempt by Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar to marginalise two of the faction's most prominent faces.
Sharad Pawar, speaking to reporters, stopped short of direct criticism but made his assessment clear: "I don't have to comment on the happenings in the other party. But both Patel and Tatkare have worked with me for several years and have undertaken several responsibilities. Therefore, I know their capabilities very well. Maybe the leadership of their party has a different assessment of them."
Tatkare Meets Sharad Pawar, Calls It Non-Political
Sunil Tatkare has since called on Sharad Pawar in person, describing the visit as a purely personal one — to inquire about the veteran politician's health — and distancing it from any political signalling. The meeting, however, is being closely watched given the timing of the NCP's internal churn.
Senior Leader Anand Paranjape Quits NCP
Adding to the ruling faction's troubles, former Lok Sabha MP and party spokesperson Anand Paranjape has resigned from the NCP. Paranjape had reportedly been interested in the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Sunetra Pawar following her resignation, but was allegedly sidelined in the selection process.
Paranjape has since gone incommunicado. Sources close to him indicate he is in contact with Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP and son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde — a development that could signal a possible political realignment.
Sharad Pawar on National Security and Political Conduct
Separately, Sharad Pawar called for a high-level all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, describing the current national situation as grave. He noted that while several all-party meetings had been held over the past three to four years, the Prime Minister had not attended any of them.
"If the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers are claiming the situation is serious, then everyone should address it with equal seriousness," Pawar said.
He also took aim at what he described as performative gestures by political leaders during the crisis, remarking: "Since this morning, I have been watching on TV; someone is travelling by motorcycle, someone else is walking. One person even announced that since he is a minister, he has reduced his fleet of cars from 17 to eight. I was shocked to learn he had 17 cars in the first place and even after reducing them, he still has eight."
Pawar Rebukes Fadnavis Over Remarks on Rahul Gandhi
Sharad Pawar also criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for language used against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Fadnavis had called Gandhi "a rejected neta" and "a rejected commodity."
Pawar said: "The words used by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding Rahul Gandhi were inappropriate. Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional post representing the people. Therefore, using such language for a person holding that position is wrong."
On the broader economic picture, Pawar questioned the reasons behind the weakening rupee, noting that while the situation with Iran was a factor, it may not be the only one. As the NCP's internal fault lines deepen and the political temperature rises nationally, the coming weeks are likely to test both factions' cohesion and strategic direction.
Point of View
A sitting Lok Sabha member, felt compelled to visit Sharad Pawar personally — a move that speaks to where experienced NCP hands still see the real centre of gravity. Anand Paranjape's exit and his reported proximity to Shrikant Shinde further illustrates a pattern: leaders sidelined by the ruling faction are gravitating toward the Shinde camp, which could quietly reshape Maharashtra's coalition arithmetic ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sharad Pawar comment on Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare?
Sharad Pawar was responding to the omission of Patel and Tatkare from the NCP's national executive list in a letter sent by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to the ECI. Without directly criticising the ruling faction, Pawar affirmed both leaders' capabilities and suggested the party's current leadership may simply hold a different view of them.
Why were Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare left out of the NCP national executive?
The NCP's Deputy Chief Minister and party chief Sunetra Pawar omitted both leaders from the national executive list submitted to the Election Commission of India. The omission is widely interpreted as an effort by Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar to sideline two senior figures who could challenge their hold over the party.
Why did Anand Paranjape quit the NCP?
Former Lok Sabha MP and NCP spokesperson Anand Paranjape resigned from the party after reportedly being passed over for the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Sunetra Pawar. He has since gone incommunicado, and sources indicate he is in contact with Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.
What did Sharad Pawar say about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis?
Sharad Pawar criticised Fadnavis for calling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a 'rejected neta' and 'rejected commodity', saying such language was inappropriate for someone holding the constitutionally recognised post of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
What national issue did Sharad Pawar raise alongside the NCP infighting?
Pawar called for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to address what he described as a grave national situation, noting that the PM had not attended any of the several all-party meetings held over the past three to four years. He also raised concerns about the falling rupee and its underlying causes.
