Praful Patel dismisses legal challenge to Sunetra Pawar's appointment as NCP national president

Senior Nationalist Congress Party NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel on Tuesday dismissed the legal challenge to the appointment of Sunetra Pawar as the partys national president maintaining that her election was conducted in accordance with the partys constitutionThe development comes after former NCP National Secretary Sachidanand Singh served a legal notice questioning the validity of Sunetra Pawars appointment and seeking a fresh election for the partys top organisational post The notice has fuelled speculation over internal differences within the partyPatel distances himself from legal noticeResponding to questions from reporters Patel said he had no connection with the legal notice and rejected suggestions that it reflected divisions within the party leadershipI have absolutely no connection with the notice sent to Sunetra Pawar and there is no reason to give it much weight Patel stated adding that Her selection was completely in line with the partys rulesHe reiterated that the appointment was made in accordance with the provisions of the party constitution and sought to downplay the significance of the legal challengePatel however said there was scope for organisational reforms within the party while clarifying that his views on internal restructuring were unrelated to the legal noticeCalls for organisational reformsPatel said he had earlier informally conveyed his opinion that certain organisational changes were necessary within the partyHe stressed that his views on internal reforms should not be linked to the notice served by Singh and maintained that the two issues were separateAccording to party sources Patel is expected to meet NCP national president Sunetra Pawar to discuss the situation following the legal notice and the partys response to the challengeLegal notice questions validity of appointmentThe legal notice served on July 9 challenges the validity of Sunetra Pawars appointment as the partys national presidentSunetra Pawar wife of the late Ajit Pawar was appointed to the post during the NCPs general body meeting on February 26 where Praful Patel formally announced her elevationSachidanand Singh who issued the notice currently serves as the NCPs Jharkhand state president and has been associated with the party for more than 15 years He was appointed National Secretary during the partys Karjat conclave in December 2023 but was not included in the executive committee announced on February 26 2026In the notice Singh alleged that Sunetra Pawars appointment violated provisions of the party constitution and sought a fresh election for the postLeadership dynamics under scrutinyThe legal challenge has intensified speculation over internal dynamics within the NCPAccording to party insiders the senior leadership is examining whether Singh acted independently or whether the move has the backing of another group within the organisationAttention is also focused on the partys disciplinary mechanism and how it will address the complaints arising from the noticeEarlier organisational differences resurfaceThe latest controversy has also revived discussion about earlier organisational issues within the party including differences over official correspondence with the Election CommissionIn March Sunetra Pawar abruptly cancelled an official letter that Praful Patel had sent to the EC in February In the subsequent communication released on April 29 Patel was designated as the leader of the Rajya Sabha wing while Sunil Tatkare was designated as the leader of the Lok Sabha wingFour months later the party has neither cleared the ambiguity surrounding official designations nor clarified if a revised letter was ever sent to the EC Suspecting a deeper conspiracy camps close to the National President are currently investigating if any toptier leaders orchestrated the legal challenge to undermine her authorityWith inputs from IANS