Praful Patel Denies NCP Chief Rumors as Merger Talks Roil Maharashtra
Praful Patel Denies NCP Chief Rumors as Merger Talks Roil Maharashtra
Patel calls reports baseless as Goyal apologizes; Maharashtra's NCP leaders navigate leadership chatter and the fallout of Ajit Pawar's death.
In Maharashtra, controversy swirled after a senior NCP leadership remark by Union minister Piyush Goyal suggested Praful Patel would be named the party's national president—a claim Patel immediately responded to as completely baseless. The post has been vacant since the death of party chief Ajit Pawar earlier this week, leaving veterans and MLAs watching for signals on future leadership. Goyal later apologized, saying he had been misinformed by someone.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed chatter about a merger between NCP factions, stating that no decision had been taken and that the finance portfolio, once held by Ajit Pawar, remained with him after due consultation with party leadership. The tense atmosphere underscores the party's search for direction in a time of loss and transition.
Praful Patel, in a post on social media, reiterated that the NCP functions on democratic principles, and leadership decisions would come after consultation with senior leaders, MLAs, and office-bearers, in line with the party's collective will. He called the "baseless" speculation a reminder of the process that guides this national party.
Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar's widow and Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, has been the focal point of calls for stepping into the national president's role as well. Several leaders suggested she should lead the NCP at the national level, while others urged patience. Suresh Birasdar, an NCP legislator from Dharashiv, said party members planned to write to Sunetra Pawar about the leadership question.
Sunetra Pawar travelled to Baramati for Ajit Pawar's last rites, underscoring the local ties that will shape any future leadership decisions. For now, party ranks are cautious, with no firm timetable for announcing a new national president.
