A fresh dispute has emerged within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), centering on the appointment of Sunetra Pawar, the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, as the party's national president. A senior party functionary has formally challenged the validity of her election, calling for a fresh electoral process to be conducted within a fortnight. The issue escalated on July 9 when National Secretary Sachchidanand Singh served a legal notice via the Delhi-based law firm ARS Associates. The notice, addressed to Sunetra Pawar (President), Praful Patel (Working President), and Brijmohan Srivastava (Party Secretary), declares the presidential election held on February 26, 2026, as void.
Legal Claims and Demands by Sachchidanand Singh
Sachchidanand Singh contends that the presidential appointment violated the party's governing constitution. His notice insists that the election process was fundamentally flawed and demands that it be declared invalid. He has requested that a new election be organized under the supervision of an independent and impartial returning officer, and that the current list of office-bearers be deemed nullified until such a process is completed. Singh has issued a clear ultimatum: if the process for a new election is not initiated within 15 days, he intends to seek judicial intervention.
The Core of the Dispute
The controversy stems from events following the passing of Ajit Pawar on January 28, 2026. According to Singh, the party submitted a modified constitution to the Election Commission on February 17, 2026, which granted Praful Patel all presidential powers until a formal election was held. Singh questions the procedural legitimacy of the February 26 meeting, arguing that since only Praful Patel held the authority to convene the national executive committee, Brijmohan Srivastava acted without jurisdiction. The notice also alleges that a letter sent to the Election Commission on February 18 regarding the executive meeting lacked the approval of the then-executive members, undermining the validity of the subsequent election. Singh asserts that no central election authority was formed, no returning officer was appointed, and no electoral schedule was announced, leaving representatives with no opportunity to file nominations or cast votes.
NCP’s Formal Response
The party has firmly denied these allegations through spokesperson Suraj Chavan, who labeled the claims as baseless. Chavan emphasized that the election was conducted in strict adherence to all constitutional provisions. Furthermore, the spokesperson highlighted that Sachchidanand Singh was personally present at the national convention on February 26 and had, in fact, raised his hand in support of Sunetra Pawar during the voting process. Sachchidanand Singh, who has been with the organization for 15 years, currently serves as the NCP’s Jharkhand state president and was appointed as a national secretary by the late Ajit Pawar in December 2023. The party notes, however, that he was not a member of the specific executive committee that convened on February 26, 2026.
Sunetra Pawar’s Rise in Politics
Following the sudden death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, Sunetra Pawar assumed significant political responsibilities. She was appointed as the first female Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, taking charge of crucial portfolios including Sports, Minority Development, and Excise. Beyond her administrative roles, she was elected as the party's national president and subsequently won the by-election for the Baramati assembly constituency, officially becoming a legislator. As she navigates her leadership term, this legal challenge marks a significant hurdle in the ongoing transition within the party's top ranks.
