By Admin 
After the demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, developments are changing rapidly in Maharashtra politics. His wife Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected leader of the Nationalist Congress Legislature Party. After this Sunetra Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Late Nationalist Congress leader Ajit Pawar was also the national president of the party. Now the discussion has started on who will be appointed to the post of National President of the party after him.
For the last two days, Praful Patel’s name was coming up for the post of National President. Some reports claimed that he had been appointed. But after this a controversy arose in the party and Praful Patel himself had to deny these reports.
Prafull Patel’s name was discussed
Praful Patel is a Rajya Sabha MP and National Working President of the Nationalist Congress. There was talk of him becoming the president after Ajit Pawar, but after opposition within the party, Patel tried to put an end to it. Despite this, differences are clearly visible among the leaders on who will take command of the party.
Only Sunetra Pawar will be the national president – Kokate
Nationalist Congress MLA and former minister Manikrao Kokate took a clear stand on this subject. He said, “The national president of the party will be only Sunetra Pawar. There is no second or third party. Even if both the nationalists come together, the post of president will remain with Sunetra Vahini.”
When asked whether signatures of MLAs and officials were being collected in her support, she said, “Whether there are signatures or not, only Sunetra Pawar will come to the post of president.” Kokate also said that Sunetra Pawar will be the political successor of Ajit Pawar and will become the leader of the party.
Officials also wrote letters demanding
Now not only the MLAs, but also key officials of the party have raised the demand to make Sunetra Pawar the national president. Under the leadership of NCP cultural cell president Babasaheb Patil, more than 30 officials wrote a letter demanding the appointment of Sunetra Pawar as the national president. This letter has been sent to senior leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel.
The letter said, “The party is saddened by the demise of Ajit Pawar. In such difficult times, the party needs a leadership that is strong, patient and keeps everyone together. Sunetra Pawar has proved her commitment by assuming the responsibility of the post of Deputy Chief Minister in adverse circumstances. Considering her experience, loyalty and affinity towards the workers, she is suitable for the post of National President. Therefore, the officials of various cells of the party unanimously demand that Sunetra Pawar be appointed the National President.”
Protest in the name of Patel?
Praful Patel, while denying the news of the post of president, said, “The news of my becoming the national president is completely baseless. NCP is a democratic organization. Such a big decision will be taken only by respecting the sentiments of the senior leadership, MLAs, office bearers and workers. The established procedure of the party will be followed.”
‘Praful Patel should support Sunetra Pawar’
After this, the demand to make Sunetra Pawar the president intensified. Party spokesperson Suraj Chavan said, “The post of national president belonged to Ajit Dada. After him, Sunetra Pawar should accept this responsibility. There is no opposition to Praful Patel, but he should work supporting Sunetra Pawar at the national level.”
What did the opposition say about the NCP president?
Opposition parties also commented on this issue. MNS President Raj Thackeray said, “Nationalist Congress is a party of struggling workers that has emerged from Marathi soil. The president of such a party should be a Marathi face. He can be ‘Patil’, but not ‘Patel’.” Apart from him, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) MP Sanjay Raut also said that the command of the party should not go into the hands of Praful Patel.