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Sharad Pawar's NCP Removes All Spokespersons, Names Two Temporarily
Sharad Pawar is a very important political leader in India who has his own party called the NCP.
Recently, his party decided to remove all of its official speakers — the people who talk to the news on the party's behalf.
The party took away all the speaker jobs at once, starting on August 4, 2026.
For now, two people named Vidya Chavan and Mahesh Tapase will speak for the party.
A leader named Shashikant Shinde, who is in charge of the party in the state of Maharashtra, agreed to this change.
He is travelling around the state to see how the party is working.
Some other people got new jobs too, like leading the party's student and youth groups.
Many people were guessing that the party might join hands with a different group called Mahayuti.
But Sharad Pawar said no, there is no question of that happening.
So the party is starting fresh with a new team of speakers while it figures out its next steps.
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) dissolved all its 22 spokesperson appointments effective immediately from August 4, 2026.
Former MLA Vidya Chavan and Mahesh Tapase will serve as the party's authorised spokespersons until new appointments are made.
The move was approved by Maharashtra unit chief Shashikant Shinde, who is reviewing the party's organisational structure during a statewide tour.
Shinde also appointed Sushil Borde as student wing president, Vishal Wakadkar as youth wing chief and Ram Rathod as head of the teachers' cell.
The overhaul follows speculation of a possible tie-up with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which Sharad Pawar has denied, saying there is 'no question' of a merger.
- Who
- Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction and its Maharashtra unit chief Shashikant Shinde.
- What
- The party dissolved all its spokesperson appointments, effective immediately, and named Vidya Chavan and Mahesh Tapase as its authorised spokespersons until new appointments.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- When
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
- Why
- The restructuring followed Shashikant Shinde's statewide tour reviewing the party's organisation, and came amid speculation about a possible tie-up with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which Sharad Pawar has denied.
Supporters of a Mahayuti alliance
Opponents of a merger
Possible merger between NCP factions
Supporters of a Mahayuti alliance
Media reports in July said some leaders in the Sharad Pawar-led party favoured a tie-up with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, and speculation grew after leaders of both NCP factions met at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence.
Opponents of a merger
Sharad Pawar categorically rejected reports of a possible merger between the two NCP factions, declaring there is 'no question' of the split camps joining hands, as the party remains part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.
Key facts
- Party
- Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), also called NCP(SP)
- Spokespersons removed
- All 22 appointees
- New authorised spokespersons
- Vidya Chavan (former MLA) and Mahesh Tapase
- Effective date
- August 4, 2026
- Approved by
- Shashikant Shinde, party's Maharashtra unit chief
- Other appointments
- Sushil Borde (student wing), Vishal Wakadkar (youth wing), Ram Rathod (teachers' cell)
- Backdrop
- July media reports of a possible tie-up with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, denied by Sharad Pawar
- 2023 split
- NCP split when Ajit Pawar and several MLAs joined the Mahayuti coalition government
Quotes
Vikas Lawande
Party leader and former spokesperson
“"I remain committed to the party's fundamental ideology and will continue to stay active for the party. To make the party organization even stronger, henceforth too, I will take whatever responsibility the party gives me and remain active for the party's democratic, progressive, and secular ideals. Politics for social work-this remains my eternal principle."”
NDTV
Sources
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