Mumbai – A serious internal clash within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has moved out of the shadows. National secretary Sachchidanand Singh served a legal notice on July 9, accusing Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel and national general secretary Brijmohan Srivastava of breaching the party’s constitution. The notice seeks to declare Sunetra Pawar’s election “illegal, non‑existent and void.”

Background of the Party

The NCP was founded in 1999 by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar as a breakaway from the Indian National Congress, reflecting dissent within the latter. Ajit Pawar, a stalwart of both state and national politics, died unexpectedly in 2026, leaving a leadership vacuum. After his death, Praful Patel was appointed interim national president, a role intended only as a stop‑gap.

Core Allegations in the Legal Notice

According to Singh, the party’s national convention held on February 26 at Mumbai’s NSCI Dome elected Sunetra Pawar without adhering to constitutional protocols. Specifically, the notice claims that only an authorized acting president—not the general secretary—has the power to convene a national convention and initiate a presidential poll. Mandatory steps such as appointing an independent election authority, publishing an election schedule, inviting nominations and laying out voting procedures were allegedly bypassed.

Internal Discontent and Potential Outcomes

The episode is not merely a legal skirmish; it underscores deepening factionalism within the NCP. Senior leaders have voiced concerns over the growing influence of Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar in organisational matters. Praful Patel’s public call for “corrective measures” further signals that the party’s internal cohesion is under strain. The notice gives the leadership 15 days to withdraw the documents filed with the Election Commission, nullify Sunetra Pawar’s election, and organise an independent central election authority. Failure to comply could see the matter escalated to courts and the Election Commission, jeopardising the party’s operational credibility.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, the NCP faces two intertwined challenges: conducting a constitutionally compliant election for its national president and bridging the leadership gap left by Ajit Pawar’s demise. Political analysts warn that without swift remedial action, the party risks a prolonged split that could reshape opposition dynamics at the national level.