A significant political crisis appears to be unfolding within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sunetra Pawar, with internal tensions intensifying after her rise to the party’s top position.
The situation has drawn sharp commentary from Sanjay Raut, who has warned of an imminent split within the party. He claimed that a substantial number of NCP MLAs—estimated between 25 and 30—could defect to the Bharatiya Janata Party, indicating a potential major realignment in Maharashtra politics.
The crisis has its roots in the period following the death of Ajit Pawar in January 2026, which created a leadership vacuum and triggered a power struggle within the party. The contest for influence has largely centred around Sunetra Pawar on one side and senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare on the other.
Tensions escalated when Patel and Tatkare reportedly pushed for amendments to the party constitution that would grant the Executive President powers equal to those of the national president. Their move, including an approach to the Election Commission in February, was strongly opposed by Sunetra Pawar, who later wrote to the poll body urging it to dismiss the proposal. Her decision to omit their official titles in that communication was widely seen as a clear assertion of authority.
Her formal election as party chief in February further strengthened her position but also sharpened internal divisions. Instead of stabilising the organisation, the leadership change appears to have deepened mistrust among senior figures, with signs of factionalism becoming more visible.
Speculation about the sidelining of key leaders intensified when Sunetra Pawar undertook a visit to Delhi without Patel and Tatkare. Although Parth Pawar dismissed such concerns publicly, reports suggest that dissatisfaction within sections of the party continues to persist.
Attempts to mediate the dispute, involving leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde, have so far failed to produce a resolution. Additional controversy arose during a party event where banners excluded images of Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar, instead highlighting Tatkare and his family—fueling further allegations of internal rivalry and attempts at power consolidation.
Raut’s claims of possible defections, including from regions like Jalgaon, have added urgency to the situation. If such shifts materialise, they could significantly alter the political balance in Maharashtra.
Overall, Sunetra Pawar’s elevation has consolidated leadership at the top but simultaneously exposed deep structural fault lines within the party. Whether the NCP can manage these internal conflicts or faces fragmentation remains uncertain, with the outcome likely to have broader implications for state politics.
