MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is once again in the spotlight as the omission of several senior leaders from the newly released national office-bearers list has triggered intense speculation about a major power realignment within the party following the demise of Ajit Pawar.

The 12-member office-bearers list, submitted to the Election Commission of India, prominently features Sunetra Pawar as National President, with her sons Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar appointed as General Secretary and National Secretary, respectively. However, the conspicuous absence of heavyweights such as Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dilip Walse Patil has raised eyebrows in political circles.

These veteran leaders, who played crucial roles in the party’s growth and were close associates of the late Ajit Pawar, find their names only in a separate 22-member national working committee list. The development has fuelled fresh buzz about a gradual shift in control towards the younger Pawar generation and questions over the future influence of the old guard.

Party sources indicate that the list was finalised amid ongoing efforts to consolidate the organisation after Ajit Pawar’s tragic death in an aircraft crash on January 28 this year. Sunetra Pawar, who assumed the role of Deputy Chief Minister and party leadership, is seen by many as steadily strengthening the family’s grip on key decision-making positions.

When asked about the omissions, Sunetra Pawar reportedly described them as “administrative mistakes” that would be corrected soon. However, this clarification has done little to douse the speculation. Political observers suggest the move may signal an attempt to sideline senior leaders who enjoyed significant autonomy under Ajit Pawar and reduce factional influence within the party.

Praful Patel, a former Union Minister and long-time loyalist, along with Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal, have been instrumental in maintaining the party’s organisational machinery across Maharashtra. Their reduced visibility in the core office-bearers list has led to whispers of internal differences over leadership style, ticket distribution, and alliances ahead of upcoming local body elections.

Sharad Pawar, the patriarch of the rival NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction, refrained from direct comment but noted that leaders like Patel and Tatkare had worked with him for decades. His remarks have added another layer to the ongoing drama between the two NCP factions.

The episode comes at a time when the Ajit Pawar-led NCP (now under Sunetra Pawar) is navigating complex political equations within the Mahayuti alliance while trying to regain lost ground after mixed electoral performances. The party is also grappling with questions about its independent identity versus over-reliance on the BJP and Shiv Sena.

Senior party functionaries have dismissed the controversy as “routine organisational restructuring,” insisting there is no rift. Yet, the development has revived debates about dynastic politics and generational transition within the Pawar camp. Whether this marks the beginning of a larger power shift or is merely a temporary adjustment remains to be seen, but one thing is clear that the Pawar family continues to dominate the narrative in Maharashtra politics.