Archive · 21 Aug 2026
NCP Leadership Challenge Targets Sunetra Pawar’s Election as President
Sachchidanand Singh says Sunetra Pawar’s election as NCP president was not conducted properly.
He has sent her and two other party leaders legal notices.
He wants the election and related filings to be cancelled.
He is also asking the party to hold a new election.
The election took place on February 26, 2026, in Mumbai.
Sunetra Pawar became president after her husband, Ajit Pawar, died in an air crash.
Chhagan Bhujbal says party representatives supported her election.
The NCP is deciding how to respond to the latest notice.
NCP national secretary Sachchidanand Singh has issued a fresh legal notice to Sunetra Pawar challenging her election as party president.
Singh alleges the February 26, 2026, organisational election violated the NCP constitution and seeks to void related Election Commission filings.
He has demanded a fresh election and also issued notices to Praful Patel and Brijmohan Srivastava.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal defended Pawar, saying party office-bearers, MPs and MLAs supported her election.
The dispute follows Pawar’s election after her husband, Ajit Pawar, died in an air crash on January 28.
- Who
- NCP national secretary Sachchidanand Singh has challenged Sunetra Pawar’s election; Chhagan Bhujbal has defended her.
- What
- Singh has issued a legal notice alleging irregularities in the NCP’s presidential election and seeking a fresh election.
- When
- The election was held on February 26, 2026; Singh sent an earlier notice in July and a second notice on August 17.
- Where
- The election was held at an NCP convention in Mumbai; Singh is based in Jharkhand.
- Why
- Singh says the NCP constitution was not followed during the organisational election.
Singh’s legal challenge
NCP leaders’ defense of Pawar
Validity of the election
Singh’s legal challenge
Singh alleges that provisions of the NCP constitution were not followed during the February 26, 2026, organisational election.
NCP leaders’ defense of Pawar
Chhagan Bhujbal says Sunetra Pawar had the support of party office-bearers, MPs and MLAs, who voted for her.
Need for a fresh election
Singh’s legal challenge
Singh wants the election and related Election Commission filings cancelled and a new election held under the party constitution.
NCP leaders’ defense of Pawar
Bhujbal questioned why Pawar was being troubled by the notices and suggested the challenge was unnecessary if the party supported her.
Next legal steps
Singh’s legal challenge
Singh has sought responses within 15 days and may take the three leaders to court if they do not respond.
NCP leaders’ defense of Pawar
The NCP has been considering how to handle the notices; the party insider said Brijmohan Srivastava was expected to respond to the latest notice.
- Challenged election
- Sunetra Pawar was elected NCP national president on February 26, 2026.
- Legal demand
- Sachchidanand Singh wants the election and consequential Election Commission filings declared void.
- Requested remedy
- Singh has demanded a fresh election conducted according to the NCP constitution.
- Other recipients
- Senior leader Praful Patel and national general secretary and Election nodal officer Brijmohan Srivastava also received notices.
- Notice timeline
- Singh sent an initial notice in July and a second notice to the three leaders on August 17.
- Party response
- An NCP insider said party leaders had decided not to respond to the first notice, while Brijmohan Srivastava was expected to respond to the second.
- Pawar’s succession
- Sunetra Pawar became president after her husband, Ajit Pawar, died in an air crash on January 28.