3 weeks ago
Tata power struggle deepens as Chandrasekaran declines reappointment
The Tata Group is a very big group of companies in India.
For a long time, a well-known leader named Ratan Tata was in charge, but he passed away in 2024.
After that, the people who help run the company could not agree about who should be in charge.
Charitable trusts connected to the Tata family own most of the company, and they help make big decisions.
One big question was whether the company should sell shares to the public, but some people did not want that.
The chairman, Mr. Chandrasekaran, was asked to stay for five more years, but one person on the board said no.
Because of that, he decided he would leave in 2027.
Some of Ratan Tata's closest friends also quit their important jobs because of the disagreements.
Now everyone is waiting to see who will lead the Tata Group next.
Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said he will not seek reappointment when his term ends on February 20, 2027.
His proposed five-year extension failed at a February 24, 2026 board meeting after one director did not support it.
Ratan Tata's close associates Vijay Singh and Mehli Mistry have withdrawn from key positions at Tata Group entities and trusts.
Trustees of Tata Trusts, which owns about 66% of Tata Sons, are split into rival camps aligned with Noel Tata and Mehli Mistry.
A key fault line is whether Tata Sons should be publicly listed: Noel Tata opposes a listing, while Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh support it.
- Who
- N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons; Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts; trustees Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh and Mehli Mistry; the Tata Sons board.
- What
- A deepening power struggle at the Tata Group as Chandrasekaran declines a third term as Tata Sons chairman and Ratan Tata-era allies Vijay Singh and Mehli Mistry step back from boards and trusts.
- Where
- India, centred on the Tata Group's Bombay House headquarters in Mumbai.
- When
- Announced on Wednesday, August 12, 2026; Chandrasekaran's term ends February 20, 2027; the dispute escalated after Ratan Tata's death on October 9, 2024.
- Why
- Because of a governance dispute at Tata Trusts over board composition, trustee appointments and whether Tata Sons should be publicly listed; the RBI's September 2025 listing deadline for the upper-layer NBFC passed without a listing.
Noel Tata-backed trustees
Ratan Tata allies / Mistry camp
Public listing of Tata Sons
Noel Tata-backed trustees
Noel Tata opposes publicly listing Tata Sons, the promoter holding company of the Tata Group.
Ratan Tata allies / Mistry camp
Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh publicly support listing Tata Sons; Chandrasekaran reportedly did not commit to Noel's demand that he rule out a listing.
Tata Sons board composition and trustee appointments
Noel Tata-backed trustees
Noel's camp has pushed changes including appointing his son Neville Tata as a trustee of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and shaping board seat allocation.
Ratan Tata allies / Mistry camp
Mistry's camp raised governance concerns over board appointments and information sharing, opposed certain changes and opposed Vijay Singh's continuation, leading to his removal.
Chandrasekaran's reappointment
Noel Tata-backed trustees
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust unanimously recommended a five-year extension, endorsed by the nomination committee and the board.
Ratan Tata allies / Mistry camp
One director refused to support the proposal, so it did not pass unanimously; Chandrasekaran then chose not to seek another term.
Key facts
- Tata Sons chairman
- N Chandrasekaran (until February 20, 2027)
- Tata Trusts stake in Tata Sons
- About 66%
- Largest shareholders
- Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (27.98%) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (23.56%); combined 51.54%
- Shapoorji Pallonji family stake
- About 18.37%
- Ratan Tata's death
- October 9, 2024
- Key fault line
- Public listing of Tata Sons (Noel Tata opposed; Srinivasan and Singh in favour)
- Failed extension proposal
- February 24, 2026 board meeting; one director opposed
- FY26 losses (16 private businesses)
- ₹27,854 crore, up from ₹15,311 crore a year earlier
Quotes
Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Chairman of Tata Sons, 40-year Tata Group veteran
““However, the proposal was not carried through because one of the Board Members did not support it, and in the absence of unanimous support, I chose to defer the decision.””
rediff.com
livemint.com
livemint.com
telegraphindia.com
“"Noel Tata is opposed to a listing, while Srinivasan and Singh have publicly supported the idea of listing the promoter holding company of the Tata Group."”
livemint.com
Sources
Tata power struggle deepens as Chandra, other Ratan Tata allies step away
Tata power struggle deepens as Chandra, other Ratan Tata allies step away
Chandra exit underscores Tata troubles that began after Ratan Tata death
Tata power struggle deepens after Chandrasekaran exits, Ratan Tata aides withdraw
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