Sharad Pawar Announces Praful Patel, Supriya Sule NCP Working Presidents

In a major political development, Sharad Pawar on Saturday named Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as working presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party, virtually sidelining nephew Ajit Pawar, who is known to display rebellious streaks.

The NCP chief made the announcement at the 25th anniversary of the party, founded by him and P A Sangma in 1999.

"Praful Patel will shoulder the responsibility of the Working President of the Nationalist Congress Party. Supriya Sule will also be the Working President of the party," announced Pawar.

While Supriya Sule has been tasked with the responsibility of Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, and issues related to women, youth, students and the Lok Sabha, Praful Patel will look after Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Goa, and Rajya Sabha.

The announcement was made in the presence of Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar's nephew and a key player in the NCP.

Last month, Pawar had offered to resign from the presidency of the party which was followed by fervent remonstrations from the party members as well as other political leaders. An NCP panel formed to deliberate on Pawar's offer had on May 5 rejected his resignation and urged him to continue as the party president.

Ajit Pawar, who had joined hands with the BJP in 2019 was seen visibly upset with the announcement and left the party office here

Sule entered into active politics with her election as Rajya Sabha MP in September 2006. She took over the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in 2009. She also formed the Rashtravadi Yuvati Congress, a wing of young women, to connect with the youth and build a network across the state.

With his decision, Pawar has effectively made nephew Ajit Pawar report to her on party matters, a move that could lead to unease in the party.

NCP was formed by Pawar along with Tariq Anwar and P A Sangma on June 10, 1999, after they were thrown out of Congress for raising an issue related to Sonia Gandhi, the then Congress President.

Pawar managed to form the government with Congress after the 1999 Maharashtra Assembly elections to form the coalition government.

Five years later, when the Congress-led UPA came to power, Pawar and Patel became Union Ministers and the NCP increased its footprint across several states.

However, NCP has failed to make any impact since 2014, when it lost power both in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission removed national party status for NCP as the party no longer satisfied the condition of state party status in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Manipur.