A controversy has emerged within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after a banner at a party event in Maharashtra’s Raigad district omitted photographs of late Ajit Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, sparking allegations of internal rifts.
The incident occurred during a felicitation programme held on March 27 for newly elected Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members, attended by state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare. The banner at the event featured images of Tatkare, his daughter and minister Aditi Tatkare, and her brother Aniket Tatkare, but did not include Ajit Pawar or Sunetra Pawar.
Leaders from the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the party quickly raised concerns over the omission. Rohit Pawar, MLA and nephew of Ajit Pawar, alleged that senior leaders such as Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel were attempting to consolidate control within the party, suggesting the incident reflected deeper factional tensions.
In response, Aditi Tatkare apologised, describing the omission as an error at the local level. She stated that such events are typically organised by party workers and emphasised that both Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar hold an important place within the party. She urged that the mistake should not be interpreted as a reflection of loyalty or intent.
Other NCP leaders dismissed the allegations, describing them as exaggerated and politically motivated, and suggested that critics focus on issues within their own faction.
The episode has added to ongoing speculation about factional divisions within the NCP, with what may have been a local oversight escalating into a broader political controversy.
