NCP leaders meet Amit Shah amid reports of internal rift
Senior functionaries of the Nationalist Congress Party met the Union Home Minister following claims of dissatisfaction with Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar.
Six senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday to discuss party matters, according to reports from The Times of India and Hindustan Times. The group included national working president Praful Patel, Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, and leaders Dhananjay Munde and Dilip Walse Patil.
The meeting occurred in the absence of party president Sunetra Pawar and her son, Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar. Sources alleged that some senior leaders are unhappy with how the party is being managed by Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar, following the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.
The Indian Express reported that some leaders met Shah to explore merger possibilities without Sunetra and Parth Pawar. However, Sunil Tatkare rejected suggestions that merger discussions continued, stating that the curtains have drawn on the issue and the party remains united under Sunetra Pawar.
NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil denied claims of a leadership crisis, calling reports of internal differences an attempt to create an artificial narrative. He stated that Sunetra Pawar had personally informed the Home Minister that a delegation of senior leaders would be meeting him.
The meeting follows a core committee meeting called by Sunetra Pawar in Mumbai. While some sources suggested the rift involves Parth Pawar's influence on decision-making, party officials maintained that the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere to address organisational challenges.