What’s cooking within the NCP? A role for both Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar on the cards?

All eyes are on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after its supremo Sharad Pawar said that he would want to step down as president.

There are indications that Pawar may not relent on his decision to quit as the NCP chief. This has led to reports that his daughter Supriya Sule may get the top billing in the party. This would ideally mean that she would lead the party during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Photo Credit: NCP leaders Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar. PTI Photo

A meeting of top leaders of the party was held to decide on the succession plan in case the senior Pawar refuses to budge. A broad consensus was met with party leaders deciding that Supriya Sule would lead the party on the national front, while her cousin Ajit Pawar would look after the state affairs of the NCP.

The general view in the party that Ajit Pawar should be in charge of state affairs and in case the party is able to form the government post the elections to be held next year, he would be the chief ministerial candidate.

During the meeting that was held at the Y B Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Supriya Sule and Rajya Sabha member Prafull Patel were in contention for the top post. However Patel ruled himself out of the race.

At the meeting, Sharad Pawar too was present, during which he listened to the views of his supporters. However state NCP chief Jayant Patil who was in the running for the top post was conspicuous with his absence. Praful Patel however defended Patil's absence and said that he was at a meeting of a sugar cooperative society in Pune. Patil on the other hand said that he was not invited for the meeting.

Sharad Pawar on the other hand said that the meeting of the committee to chose the next chief should be held on May 6. He also added that he would abide the decision taken by the committee.

Most NCP members feel that this would be the right to hand over Supriya Sule the national role. She would have time to prepare ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the members felt.

Going by the developments, it is clear that all is not done. The meetings that are being held are informal in nature. During these meetings there were supporters of the senior Pawar who had come to urge him to reconsider his decision.

Political analysts say that the move by Sharad Pawar could have been to thwart his nephew's plans. There were signals that Ajit Pawar was looking to break away with 40 MLAs. Sharad Pawar also would not want his daughter to get sidelined in the wake of Ajit Pawar becoming all powerful. This move to make Supriya Sule the national chief and Ajit Pawar the head in the state would balance out the entire act for the NCP, the analyst also said.