No rift in NCP, Sunetra Pawar’s election as president legal: Sunil Tatkare

Mumbai, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare on Tuesday said that the election of Sunetra Pawar as the party's national president is legal and well within the stipulated norms.

Speaking to reporters, he strongly dismissed allegations of an internal rift within the party following a legal notice served by former national secretary Sachchidanand Singh challenging the election of Pawar as the party's National President.

Tatkare clarified that the party's top leadership election was conducted in a completely transparent manner, adhering strictly to the party constitution and stipulated regulatory norms.

Downplaying the challenge, Tatkare stated that the party would examine the notice and respond appropriately through proper legal channels. He firmly asserted that the allegations raised by Singh are entirely baseless and aimed at creating artificial friction where none exists.

He said there is absolutely no rift or division within their ranks, and the election of Pawar as the National President was carried out in full compliance with all organisational bylaws and democratic procedures.

He added that they will deal with the legal notice legally, but the charges levelled against the process have no merit whatsoever.

Party insiders indicate that the NCP leadership views the notice as an isolated grievance rather than a systemic challenge, maintaining that the organisation remains unified behind the newly elected National President.

Singh served a comprehensive legal notice on July 9 to the party's top brass, including National President Pawar, National Working President Praful Patel, and National General Secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav, who also serves as the Nodal Officer to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The notice demands that the entire election process be declared illegal, non-est (non-existent), and void.

According to party records dated February 17, 2026, it was agreed that National Working President Patel would temporarily officiate as the National President following Ajit Pawar's passing. However, Singh alleged that proper constitutional protocols were swiftly abandoned.

He stated in the notice that instead of following proper constitutional protocols, Shrivastav, a General Secretary, independently passed a resolution on February 18, 2026, calling for a National Convention and initiating an election process to choose a permanent Party President.

In a related development, NCP leader in the Rajya Sabha Patel said there is no rift in the party and all the senior leaders sit with Pawar to discuss political issues.

He added that the letter written by Singh carries no weight and any issue should be amicably resolved in the interest of the party. Attempting to defuse the controversy, Patel firmly distanced himself from the legal challenge, asserting that Pawar's election strictly adhered to the party's constitution.

Patel said he has absolutely no connection with the notice sent to Pawar, and there is no reason to give it much weight, adding that her selection was completely in line with the party's rules. However, Patel admitted that internal structural changes are required following the vacuum left by the passing of the party's former chief.

He noted that Ajit Pawar's demise has left a massive void in the party that urgently needs to be filled. Before this notice arrived, he had informally expressed his view that certain internal reforms are necessary, but his personal opinion on organisational updates has absolutely nothing to do with this legal notice.

He had remarked on Monday that while it is difficult to fill the vacuum left by Ajit Pawar, the party must take corrective steps to remain relevant in both state and national politics.

However, former NCP National General Secretary Shrivastav, who was dropped by National President Pawar during the reconstitution of the national executive council and national working committee done on April 29, 2026, as the general secretary, claimed that a massive communication void has emerged within the party after Ajit Pawar's passing, which is the root cause of the growing resentment among party office-bearers and grassroots workers.

Shrivastav said Singh had written a letter to him and they spoke as well, but he could not satisfy his queries. He said due to a complete lack of communication within the party, he did not receive any answers himself, which is why he couldn't respond to him.

He added that the objection raised by Singh regarding Pawar's appointment as National President is legally valid. While everyone accepts Pawar as the National President and no one opposes her leadership, the demand is simply that her election must strictly follow the party's constitution.

He said Singh is a responsible office-bearer, and his demand is just. He tried to discuss this with senior leaders, but he received no positive response, and no one showed any real interest.

Shrivastav emphasised that the vacuum left by the senior leader has severely impacted the party's daily operations.

He said multiple shortcomings have surfaced at various levels in the party after Ajit Pawar's demise, and no one can truly replace him.

He added that the way he ran both the party organisation and the government was extraordinary and incomparable. However, since his departure, many things within the party need urgent correction. There is a severe lack of dialogue now, and the constant discussions and interactions among workers and office-bearers have completely ground to a halt after Ajit Pawar's passing, leading to widespread unrest.

Shrivastav further claimed that the disconnect is not just at the grassroots level, but also exists among the topmost leadership.

He further stated that no one is interfering with Pawar's authority, and everyone stands with her. However, this absolute lack of communication within the party must end, and everyone needs to reflect on this.

He said new faces have been given opportunities in the party's executive committee, and they seem to believe that everything runs on autopilot and tasks will execute themselves. But running an organisation is not that simple; it requires constant dialogue.

He added that the new inductees must understand this, as should those currently managing the party, and the lapse lies on their part.

He said there is currently a visible lack of communication even among Pawar, Tatkare, and Patel, which is precisely why the questions raised have remained unanswered.

Source: IANS