NCP's Sunil Tatkare meets Sharad Pawar; Rohit Pawar claims 22 MLAs may join BJP
Synopsis
A late-night meeting at Sharad Pawar's Silver Oak residence has set Maharashtra's political circles on fire. NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar has alleged that 22 NCP MLAs, including Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, are set to defect to the BJP — a claim that gains weight amid a controversial NCP executive reshuffle that quietly stripped senior leaders of their designations.
Key Takeaways
Sunil Tatkare met Sharad Pawar at 'Silver Oak' on Tuesday night ; Tatkare called it a personal health visit.
Rohit Pawar alleged that Tatkare and Praful Patel plan to contest through the BJP , taking 22 NCP MLAs with them.
Maval MLA Sunil Shelke is also reportedly prepared to contest on a BJP ticket, per Rohit Pawar's claim.
Sunetra Pawar reconstituted the NCP National Executive, removing Tatkare and Patel from their posts as National Working President and General Secretary.
Senior leaders Praful Patel , Chhagan Bhujbal , Sunil Tatkare , and Dilip Walse Patil were listed without official designations in the April 29 executive document submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) .
Tatkare remained silent when reporters asked if he still holds the post of General Secretary, deepening speculation of a rift.
The Maharashtra political landscape is abuzz following a late-night meeting between NCP State President Sunil Tatkare and NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar at the latter's 'Silver Oak' residence on Tuesday. While Tatkare has officially described the visit as a courtesy call over Pawar's health, rival factions and political observers are reading far more into the encounter.
Rohit Pawar's Explosive Allegations
NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar held a press conference on Wednesday, making sweeping claims about an imminent political realignment in Maharashtra. He alleged that a large-scale defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in the works.
Point of View
But the political context makes that framing hard to sustain. Sunetra Pawar's executive reshuffle — which quietly stripped Tatkare and Patel of their designations while elevating the next generation of Pawars — is the kind of internal signal that precedes a break, not a reconciliation. Rohit Pawar's 22-MLA claim may be a pressure tactic, but the silence from Tatkare when asked about his own post speaks louder than any clarification. Maharashtra's NCP has been through one split already; the structural incentives for a second realignment, especially with BJP's assembly arithmetic in play, are real and should not be dismissed as political theatre.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sunil Tatkare meet Sharad Pawar at Silver Oak?
Sunil Tatkare has officially stated that the meeting was a personal visit to check on Sharad Pawar's health following his recent treatment at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Tatkare posted on X clarifying that no political discussions took place and described the visit as part of Maharashtra's tradition of relationships that transcend party lines.
What did Rohit Pawar allege at his press conference?
Rohit Pawar alleged that Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel plan to contest future elections through the BJP, taking 22 NCP MLAs with them. He also claimed that Maval MLA Sunil Shelke is prepared to contest on a BJP ticket, and that some NCP MLAs from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena are also in contact with the BJP.
Why were senior NCP leaders dropped from the party's National Executive?
NCP President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reconstituted the party's National Executive, with senior leaders including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil listed without official designations in the April 29 document submitted to the ECI. The Ajit Pawar faction has called the omissions a clerical error, but critics remain sceptical given similar discrepancies in March.
Who has been elevated in the new NCP National Working Committee?
The reconstituted committee includes Parth Pawar and former Union minister Subodh Mohite as general secretaries, and Jay Pawar as national secretary, disciplinary committee president, and treasurer — widely seen as an elevation of the Pawar family's next generation within the party structure.
What is the significance of Tatkare's silence on his General Secretary post?
When reporters asked Tatkare directly whether he still holds the post of General Secretary, he did not respond. Political observers view this silence as significant, fuelling speculation that he may be considering a return to Sharad Pawar's camp or a move toward the BJP.
