Archive · 23 Aug 2026
NCP leaders project unity, overhaul party ahead of local polls
The Nationalist Congress Party held a long meeting to make its organisation stronger.
Its leaders want better teamwork between party workers and government ministers.
They also want local problems to reach senior leaders more quickly.
The party plans to prepare for Zilla Parishad elections under Sunetra Pawar.
Leaders said they would continue Ajit Pawar’s political legacy.
They also said development and a secular agenda would remain important.
Reports had suggested that younger leaders and older leaders were disagreeing.
Sunil Tatkare said there had never been a split in the party.
The meeting happened while other alliance parties are also trying to expand their influence.
NCP leaders held a three-and-a-half-hour meeting to discuss organisational changes and party-government coordination.
The party plans an overhaul from its top leadership to grassroots workers.
Leaders agreed to prepare for Zilla Parishad elections under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
The meeting addressed reports of tensions between younger leaders and veterans, which Sunil Tatkare denied.
NCP leaders also discussed voter outreach, booth preparations, alliance coordination and future Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
- Who
- Nationalist Congress Party leaders, including Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar and Sunil Tatkare.
- What
- They discussed party unity, an organisational overhaul, government coordination and election preparations.
- When
- Saturday; the meeting came two days after Parth Pawar met Sharad Pawar.
- Where
- At Parth Pawar’s residence in Worli, Mumbai.
- Why
- To strengthen the NCP from the top leadership to the grassroots and prepare for upcoming elections.
NCP leadership’s unity position
Reports of internal tensions
Party unity
NCP leadership’s unity position
Sunil Tatkare said there was never any rift among NCP leaders and described the meeting as part of organisational work.
Reports of internal tensions
Reports described a widening divide between younger leaders and veterans within the party.
Organisational change
NCP leadership’s unity position
The party presented its overhaul as a collective effort to give politically influential cadres and communities greater representation.
Reports of internal tensions
Parth Pawar’s efforts to bring in new faces and increase Gen Z representation have been viewed in the context of changing influence within the party.
Political competition
NCP leadership’s unity position
The NCP plans to strengthen coordination with Mahayuti partners while expanding voter and booth-level outreach.
Reports of internal tensions
The BJP is pursuing a 100 per cent strategy for majority rule in the 288-member state assembly, while Shiv Sena is working to expand by attracting functionaries from other parties.
- Meeting duration
- Three and a half hours
- Party leadership
- The meeting was led by NCP national president and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
- Organisational plan
- Leaders discussed an overhaul from the top level to the grassroots.
- Immediate election focus
- The NCP plans to contest upcoming Zilla Parishad elections under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
- Political legacy
- Leaders agreed to carry forward the legacy of late Ajit Pawar.
- Election preparations
- The party will increase voter outreach and booth-level preparations.
- Reported internal tensions
- Reports suggested a rift between younger leaders and veterans, while Sunil Tatkare said there had never been one.