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Jayant Patil, who has held the post for over seven years, had hinted at stepping down during the party’s foundation day event on 10 June
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar with party leader Jayant Patil. (PTI file photo)
Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Saturday dismissed rumours that Jayant Patil is stepping down as the party’s Maharashtra unit president.
Responding to reports about Patil’s possible resignation, Awhad, in a post on X, addressed the rumours about Patil stepping down, dismissing them as “mischief” and noting that the party functions according to rules and discipline.
“Hon. Jayant Patil Saheb is the state president. The news of his resignation being circulated is nothing but mischief. The party operates according to rules and discipline,” he wrote.
मा. जयंत पाटील साहेब हे प्रदेशाध्यक्ष आहेत. त्यांच्या राजीनाम्याच्या बातम्या प्रसारीत होणे , हा निव्वळ खोडसाळपणा आहे. पक्ष एका नियमानुसार अन् शिस्तीनुसारच चालत असतो.@PawarSpeaks @supriya_sule @Jayant_R_Patil— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) July 12, 2025
Awhad’s comment comes amid growing speculation within the party about a leadership change in Maharashtra.
Patil, who has held the post for over seven years, had hinted at stepping down during the party’s foundation day event on 10 June. In his speech, he thanked party chief Sharad Pawar for the opportunity and said it was time for younger leaders to take charge. However, party workers present at the event interrupted his speech and did not allow him to complete it.
Party sources suggest that Shashikant Shinde, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and a Maratha leader from Western Maharashtra, is being considered as Patil’s replacement. Shinde is known to be close to both Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule, and is seen as someone who can balance internal equations within the party—especially in light of tensions between Patil and Rohit Pawar, NDTV reported.
According to sources, a formal announcement could be made on 15 July during a meeting of NCP office-bearers at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. The meeting will be held in the presence of Sharad Pawar.
Patil’s tenure has seen both successes and challenges. Under his leadership, the party played a key role in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, briefly returning to power in the state. However, the party also faced a major setback with the split in 2023. Though the NCP performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it faced a poor outcome in the Vidhan Sabha, winning just 10 seats.
The possible leadership change is being seen as an attempt by Sharad Pawar to prepare the party for the upcoming civic polls and manage internal divisions.
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Maharashtra, India, India
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