Who is the New NCP-SP Chief? Shashikant Shinde Takes Charge!

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shashikant Shinde appointed as new NCP-SP chief.
- Jayant Patil resigns after nearly seven years.
- Shinde aims to address local issues and strengthen the party.
- Political vacuum in Maharashtra requires Opposition action.
- Shinde has a history of political service and resilience.
Mumbai, July 15 (NationPress) In a significant move ahead of the local and civic body elections in Maharashtra, the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, has appointed Shashikant Shinde, a party legislator and former Minister, as the new state party President. He takes over from Jayant Patil, who has held the position for nearly seven years.
Expressing his gratitude, Shinde remarked, "It is my greatest honour that a person like me who comes from a humble background and has climbed the political ladder over the years is given the opportunity to lead a party. I assure my leaders that I will work tirelessly to address the people's issues and strengthen the organization to reclaim our power."
Shinde emphasized the political vacuum that the Opposition must fill, stating, "When we establish ourselves as a formidable organization, I am confident that the people of Maharashtra will rally behind us in large numbers."
The 61-year-old Shinde has been a member of the State Legislative Council since 2020 and remained loyal to Sharad Pawar during the NCP split, even as many leaders joined Ajit Pawar's faction.
He was elected to the Assembly four consecutive times, but faced defeat against Mahesh Shinde of the Shiv Sena in 2019 and again in the 2024 Assembly elections.
During his earlier political career, he won from the Jaoli Assembly constituency in Satara district before contesting from Koregaon, where he was victorious in 2009 and 2014.
Shinde served as the Water Resources Minister in the Cong-NCP alliance government in 2013 and is a resident of Koregaon, Satara district.
In the recent 2024 Lok Sabha election, he lost to Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhonsle of the BJP by a margin of around 32,000 votes.
Earlier at a party event, Patil submitted his resignation, paving the way for Shinde’s nomination, which was proposed by senior leader Anil Deshmukh and seconded by Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe.
Speculations about Patil's resignation had been circulating for weeks, and during a party event on June 10, he expressed his desire to step down, despite opposition from some party workers. In his farewell speech, Patil stated, "I am going but not quitting. I have taken a step back, but my aim remains steadfast. I was the commander, but the army remains strong."