Raj Thackeray’s ‘Patil, Not Patel’ Jibe Fuels Speculation Over NCP Leadership After Ajit Pawar’s Death

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 22:14 IST

Raj Thackeray questions NCP leadership, urging a Marathi identity amid Ajit Pawar’s death, Sunetra Pawar’s rise, and ongoing merger talks with Sharad Pawar’s faction.

Sunetra Pawar and Praful Patel among other NCP leaders.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has entered the debate over the ist Congress Party’s next president with a pointed remark that appeared to target senior NCP leader Praful Patel, as uncertainty continues within the party’s top ranks.

Reacting to the rapid political developments following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Raj Thackeray said Maharashtra’s political landscape had been so dramatically altered that it barely invited comment anymore. However, he said the pace and nature of unfolding events compelled him to speak.

Referring to speculation over NCP leadership, Thackeray stressed that a party “rooted in Marathi soil" should be led by someone who reflects that identity.

“Maharashtra’s politics has undergone a complete upheaval in the recent past; honestly, one doesn’t even feel like commenting on it. But still, one will have to speak on the events unfolding day to day. A party like the ist Congress Party, which is truly rooted in Marathi soil, and its working president should be a proper Marathi person — a Patil perhaps, but not a Patel!" Thackeray posted on X.

The remark was widely seen as a dig at Praful Patel, coming at a time when the NCP’s organisational leadership remains unsettled.

Political Flux After Ajit Pawar’s Death

The comments come amid intense political churn following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash earlier this week. Pawar, who was serving as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and leading the NCP faction aligned with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, died on Wednesday morning, triggering both mourning and swift political realignments.

Just three days later, on Saturday evening, his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister — a move that surprised even seasoned observers of Maharashtra politics.

Leaders from Ajit Pawar’s faction have argued that the speed of the succession was driven by looming political calculations, particularly the proposed merger between Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction and the group led by party founder Sharad Pawar.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the merger agreed to in principle on January 17 and scheduled for a formal announcement on February 12 raised concerns among Ajit Pawar loyalists that the Sharad Pawar faction could dominate the reunited party, significantly diminishing the influence of those who split from the NCP in July 2023.

Earlier on Saturday, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected leader of the NCP Legislature Party at a meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan. Her name was proposed by Chhagan Bhujbal and seconded by Dilip Walse Patil, among others.

With leadership questions unresolved and the merger process underway, Maharashtra’s political landscape remains in a state of rapid transition.

News politics Raj Thackeray’s ‘Patil, Not Patel’ Jibe Fuels Speculation Over NCP Leadership After Ajit Pawar’s Death

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