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The message from the Centre seems unmistakable: Ajit Pawar’s group may have legal recognition, but it is yet to earn political legitimacy on the national stage
Ajit Pawar faction’s absence in Union Cabinet roles or key parliamentary committees dealing with foreign affairs further weakens its claim for inclusion in diplomacy-focused delegations. (Ajit Pawar/X)
The exclusion of Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction from the recently formed all-party foreign delegations on Operation Sindoor has sparked quiet speculation in Maharashtra’s political circles.
Though no official explanation has been given, the message from the Centre seems unmistakable: Ajit Pawar’s group may have legal recognition, but it is yet to earn political legitimacy on the national stage. Despite being part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is largely viewed as a regional entity with limited parliamentary influence.
Currently, the faction has only one Lok Sabha MP, Sunil Tatkare, and two Rajya Sabha MPs—Praful Patel and Sunetra Pawar. Given this modest national footprint, sources in Delhi suggest the party simply doesn’t meet the informal criteria typically considered for international delegations, such as central roles, committee presence, or diplomatic experience.
In contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (often referred to as NCP-SP) has managed to hold onto symbolic but influential positions in national discourse. Baramati MP Supriya Sule, a three-time parliamentarian known for her well-researched speeches and cross-party rapport, has been selected to represent India in one of the delegations. Her inclusion reflects not just her individual merit, but also Sharad Pawar’s continued goodwill in Delhi’s power corridors.
Supriya took to X to express her gratitude, writing: “I am honoured to join the all-party delegation representing India on the global stage… Our mission is to convey India’s united and unwavering message of zero tolerance against terrorism.” Her presence, many believe, is also a nod to Sharad Pawar’s measured, statesmanlike conduct in recent months—especially after Operation Sindoor, where his MLAs defected but he refrained from aggressive retaliation, even extending cooperation to the Centre during all-party meetings.
That goodwill appears to be missing in the case of Ajit Pawar’s faction, despite senior leaders like Praful Patel, a former Union minister with significant international exposure. Instead of Patel, the government chose Shiv Sena UBT’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde and Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora.
Political observers say this reflects BJP’s broader alliance management strategy. The Mahayuti coalition, which includes Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, has seen growing friction over distribution of funds in the state as Ajit Pawar holds the finance department. By leaving out Ajit Pawar’s representatives, the BJP may be asserting its dominance within the alliance and subtly reinforcing the power hierarchy—reminding newer allies that national recognition must be earned, not assumed.
Moreover, Ajit Pawar’s current responsibilities remain largely confined to Maharashtra, particularly in finance and state planning. His faction’s absence in Union Cabinet roles or key parliamentary committees dealing with foreign affairs further weakens its claim for inclusion in diplomacy-focused delegations.
While the Election Commission has given Ajit Pawar’s NCP legal legitimacy, in the BJP-led power calculus, political capital is measured not just by numbers but by utility in Delhi’s policy ecosystem. The exclusion from the delegations is, therefore, more than a technicality—it’s a layered political signal. It reminds Ajit Pawar’s NCP that while it may control portfolios in Mumbai, it must still climb the rungs of national relevance to be seen as an equal partner in the larger scheme of Indian politics.
Reacting to the controversy, NCP state president Tatkare said: “We are part of the NDA-led government. In such a scenario, we all should work together instead of politicising the issue. The whole idea of this delegation is to accommodate the opposition parties at this time.”
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