NCP leader's letter seeks Union Cabinet role for Parth Pawar, exposes internal rift

Published 17 July 2026 · politics

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra is facing fresh signs of internal discord after a letter written by state vice president Udaykumar Aher to

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra is facing fresh signs of internal discord after a letter written by state vice president Udaykumar Aher to party national president Sunetra Pawar demanded that MP Parth Pawar be recommended for a Union Cabinet berth in the next expansion. He accused certain leaders within the party of attempting to sabotage the young leader's political career. Read Full Story In the letter, Aher argued that the leadership of Parth Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar, was essential for the party's national growth and urged the leadership to back his inclusion in the central government. The demand has exposed an intensifying power struggle within the NCP following the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January this year.

With the party undergoing a leadership transition, competition for influence and key positions has become increasingly visible. Aher's letter comes at a time when senior leaders such as Rajya Sabha MP and national working president Praful Patel and Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare are also seen as contenders for a Union ministerial berth, setting up a contest between veteran leaders and the next generation represented by Parth Pawar. The letter also pointed to factional divisions within the party under Sunetra Pawar's leadership. Aher attacked some leaders from within the organisation, comparing them to historical detractors and accusing them of deliberately damaging Parth Pawar's morale and trying to end his political career. The controversy adds to ongoing speculation about the party's future direction. Earlier this week, senior leader Praful Patel acknowledged the challenge facing the organisation, saying it was difficult to fill the vacuum created by Ajit Pawar and that the party needed to take "corrective steps" to remain relevant in Maharashtra and national politics.

While Sunetra Pawar has taken over as the NCP's national president, party sources have said Parth Pawar has assumed a larger organisational role. These developments have reportedly led to differences between some senior leaders and the new leadership, though the party has not officially commented on such claims. Internal discussions gained attention recently after the NCP submitted a revised list of national office-bearers and executive committee members to the Election Commission. The names of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare were allegedly either omitted or shown without their official designations, an issue the party later attributed to a typographical error. The party has also faced controversy over a notice challenging Sunetra Pawar's authority. However, the NCP leadership has not announced any action on the matter.