Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the intervening of Saturday (May 16, 2026) and Sunday (May 17, 2026) amid reports of internal tension in the NCP.

“Parth Pawar met me. There were a few administrative and political issues. We are alliance partners. I don’t think this is such a big news,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Pune on Sunday (May 17, 2026).

NCP sources said the two leaders briefly discussed issues within NCP as well. “A seat in Rajya Sabha is getting vacant. We have a few names in mind. This was also discussed,” a leader said.

The rift within NCP is being spoken about in hushed tones even as Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare continue to remain upset. The leaders have met Sharad Pawar during what a leader described as “turbulent times”.

“To some of us, it looks like Parth Pawar is in a hurry to take control of the party. There are several issues which include lack of trust, misunderstanding, and what seems to be an overzealousness to take control,” a senior leader told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, refuting speculations of tension within the party, NCP leader Umesh Patil said reports on the removal of Mr. Tatkare and Mr. Patel from key positions were baseless. “It is NCP SP leaders like Rohit Pawar who are spreading all these rumours,” he said.

Answering questions about whether NCP leaders and party workers had appealed to Sharad Pawar to intervene, he said that there was no question of his party members approaching another party’s leader.

“Sunetra Vahini leads this party. She will take decisions in this party. These speculations are being spread to fuel misunderstanding and confusion within the party cadres. How can a ruling party join an opposition party,” he asked. The leader denied reports that Mr. Patel and Mr. Tatkare were barred from entering the Delhi office of the NCP.

NCP (SP) sources confirmed that Mr. Tatkare and Mr. Patel had met Sharad Pawar separately for a few minutes. They confirmed that several leaders of the NCP have been appealing to Mr. Sharad to intervene and resolve the internal issues within NCP. An NCP (SP) meeting will be held in Mumbai on May 20.

Pawar, Tatkare sidelined?

Party sources said that efforts were on to speak with Mr. Tatkare and Mr. Patel. They acknowledged that both the leaders were upset due to internal issues, amid talks that they were being sidelined in the party and that control was being given to Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar. Leaders attributed the disturbance to ‘misunderstanding’.

Referring to the letters written by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission, a leader claimed that those were written in a hurry. “It can at best be attributed to lack of administrative experience,” a leader close to Ms. Pawar said.

Another letter to the EC, giving the list of national office bearers, does not have the senior leaders’ names. A few days ago, Ms. Pawar tweeted saying there were clerical errors in the letter, and that they will be corrected.

But leaders close to Mr. Tatkare and Mr. Patel questioned how the list of office-bearers did not have the names of senior leaders who were appointed along with Ms. Pawar when a national executive was convened this year.

“In the same national convention, held on February 22, Praful Patel was appointed as the working president. Sunil Tatkare was appointed as the general secretary and State president. You can’t omit these names when you give a letter. We have video evidence of it all. This has led to confusion. Will it lead to the possibility of another national convention which will have to be held? Will a third letter be written to the EC now,” a leader asked.