MUMBAI: NCP senior leader Praful Patel and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare were instrumental in splitting the united NCP and joining hands with the BJP under the leadership of late Ajit Pawar.
However, both Patel and Tatkare are now struggling to find a place in the party following Ajit Pawar’s demise, and their future in the organisation remains uncertain. The reason, party sources said, is that after being elected NCP national president, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar consolidated control and ensured that no major decision would move forward without the consent of her and her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar.
According to the newly submitted list of office-bearers, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, who were serving as NCP national working president and Maharashtra state president respectively, have not been assigned any posts. This has raised questions over their future role in the party. When asked about it, Sunetra Pawar termed it a “typing error”.
Meanwhile, Sunetra has appointed her elder son and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar as the party’s national general secretary. Her younger son, Jay Pawar, has been appointed party secretary in addition to heading the NCP’s disciplinary committee.
Jay has also been entrusted with overseeing party funds and bank accounts, meaning no financial transaction can take place without the approval of the Pawar family -- Sunetra, Parth and Jay.
Earlier, the three signatories included late NCP national president Ajit Pawar, NCP working president Praful Patel and treasurer YP Trivedi.
Sources in the NCP said decision-making in the party is now dominated by members of the Pawar family.
“When Ajit Pawar was there, he at least used to consult other leaders and follow the democratic process. But things are different now. We cannot deny the contributions of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. If these tall leaders' future is uncertain, then this is not a good sign,” said a senior NCP leader who requested anonymity.
Meanwhile, NCP founder and NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar said Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare are very senior leaders, and that it is up to their party how it wants to utilise their leadership.