Praful Patel Calls For Corrective Steps In NCP Following Demise Of Ajit Pawar

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has entered a phase of severe organizational uncertainty and a leadership crisis in Mumbai following the untimely demise of its leader, former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. On Monday, 13 July, 2026, NCP National Working President and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel acknowledged the massive political vacuum left behind and called for corrective steps to keep the party relevant.

The passing of Ajit Pawar, who served as both the national president of the party and the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has widened the structural cracks within the NCP. This loss has triggered a high-stakes battle for organizational control, leaving the party’s future direction uncertain.

Speaking on Monday, Praful Patel admitted that filling the void left by Ajit Pawar is an extremely difficult task for the organization. Despite the challenges, Patel stressed that the party must take immediate corrective steps. He highlighted that these measures are necessary for the NCP to maintain its political relevance in both Maharashtra state politics and at the national level.

The leadership vacuum has also led to widespread reports of internal friction and intense succession debates within the party ranks. With the sudden absence of a central figure like Ajit Pawar, different groups within the NCP are now locked in a struggle to secure organizational control.

As the party faces this critical juncture, the focus remains on how the leadership will address the growing internal friction and resolve the ongoing succession debates. The corrective steps mentioned by Patel will be crucial in determining whether the NCP can successfully navigate this period of instability and preserve its political influence.