Archive · 16 Aug 2026
NCP weighs old guard against younger faces in leadership reset
After an important leader of an Indian political party died, the party is deciding who should lead it.
The leader was Ajit Pawar, and his wife Sunetra Pawar is now the party's national president.
The party is not sure if its state president, Sunil Tatkare, should keep his job.
Some people think the party needs an organisational change.
Election strategist Prashant Kishor suggested making big changes.
Two other leaders, Dilip Walse Patil and Anil Bhaidas Patil, were named as possible replacements.
One is a senior politician with decades of experience, and the other is a younger face.
So far, Tatkare has not been asked to step down.
The party wants to avoid causing fights inside itself as it settles into its new setup.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has put on hold a possible change in its Maharashtra leadership after Ajit Pawar's death.
State president Sunil Tatkare's position came under scrutiny after Prashant Kishor suggested an organisational overhaul.
Dilip Walse Patil and Anil Bhaidas Patil emerged as possible successors to Tatkare.
Anil Patil dismissed the speculation, and there is no indication Tatkare has been asked to step down.
NCP leader Bhausaheb Gore approached the Election Commission questioning Tatkare's reappointment as state president.
- Who
- The Nationalist Congress Party's new leadership under Sunetra Pawar, including state president Sunil Tatkare and possible successors Dilip Walse Patil and Anil Bhaidas Patil.
- What
- A possible organisational reset and change of Maharashtra state president, which the party has put on hold.
- When
- After Ajit Pawar's death, as the party settles into a new power structure.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- To balance old-guard leaders against younger faces and avoid internal fault lines after losing Ajit Pawar.
Change and overhaul
Continuity and stability
Organisational overhaul
Change and overhaul
Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraaj Party suggested an organisational overhaul, and leader Bhausaheb Gore approached the Election Commission alleging Tatkare's reappointment did not follow the prescribed process.
Continuity and stability
Senior NCP leaders defend Tatkare's continuation, saying Sunetra Pawar has given no indication she wants him to resign and that he knows when to hand over the baton.
Old guard vs younger faces
Change and overhaul
Replacing Tatkare could give the Pawar family greater control and bring younger faces like Anil Patil into leadership.
Continuity and stability
Veterans like Tatkare and Walse Patil represent continuity, experience and organisational networks built over decades; Walse Patil told the leadership he prefers organisational work over a ministerial position.
Replacing the state president
Change and overhaul
A move to replace Tatkare would signal a significant change in the party's organisational balance after Ajit Pawar's death.
Continuity and stability
Unsettling an experienced leader with his own political base and organisational network could trigger another internal fault line.
- Party
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
- Region
- Maharashtra, India
- State president under scrutiny
- Sunil Tatkare
- Possible successors
- Dilip Walse Patil (old guard) and Anil Bhaidas Patil (younger face)
- National president
- Sunetra Pawar, with Parth Pawar (Rajya Sabha MP) increasingly active
- Walse Patil profile
- 69 years old, six-time MLA from Ambegaon, began career as Sharad Pawar's personal secretary, ex-Assembly Speaker (2009-2014)
- Anil Patil profile
- 57 years old, Amalner MLA, NCP chief whip, minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government after the 2023 NCP split
- Current status
- No indication Tatkare has been asked to step down