Patel Rules Himself Out As NCP Chief; Slams Raj Thackeray, Raut For ‘Dirty Politics’

Asserting that the NCP would take its own decisions, Mr. Patel said the party was capable of making the right leadership choices. He also ruled himself out from the race for the party president’s post. According to party sources, Sunetra Pawar is likely to be appointed NCP president, while Mr. Patel will continue as the working president.

Mr. Patel’s remarks come amid intensifying speculation over the succession to late Ajit Pawar, who held the dual roles of party president and legislative leader. The debate gained momentum after Mr. Thackeray posted on social media suggesting that the next NCP president should be a “Marathi” face, expressing a preference for a “Patil” over a “Patel”. Mr. Raut made similar comments, arguing that the position should go to a local leader with surnames such as Jadhav, Patil or Kamble.

Rejecting these remarks and questioning the locus standi of leaders from rival parties, Mr. Patel said the NCP was fully capable of managing its internal matters. He also pointed out that the party had already taken a major organisational step by appointing Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Defending his political lineage, Mr. Patel said his family had a long history of public service. “Those who have never contested an election are commenting on our party’s affairs. People of Maharashtra elected my father in 1952. They have elected me also. I am a people’s representative from Maharashtra. Such comments about my family are shameful,” he said.

The remarks were seen as a reference to Mr. Thackeray, who has never contested an election, and Mr. Raut, a Rajya Sabha member who has never contested a general election. Referring to Mr. Thackeray as “Vak re” (one who bends), Mr. Patel alleged that the comments amounted to “dirty politics” aimed at creating suspicion within the NCP. “The party will choose a suitable successor, and it will not be me. What more can I say?” he added.

The controversy traces back to a January 31 social media post by Mr. Thackeray, in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of Maharashtra politics and argued that a party rooted in the state should be led by a Marathi president.

Earlier, Mr. Patel had dismissed reports of his appointment as NCP national president. “I have noted a few reports circulating in the media regarding my appointment as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party. I wish to state with absolute clarity that these reports are totally baseless,” he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, over 30 senior NCP office-bearers have written to Mr. Patel, the party’s working president, and state president Sunil Tatkare, urging them to appoint Ms. Pawar as the party’s national president.

Following Ajit Pawar’s demise, the NCP moved swiftly to address the leadership vacuum by elevating his wife as the legislative party leader, a move seen as an attempt to prevent the Sharad Pawar faction from reclaiming control of the party’s name and symbol. Within two days of his death, leaders of the rival faction had claimed that Ajit Pawar wanted both factions to reunite under the leadership of Sharad Pawar.