A new dispute has arisen regarding the selection of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as national president of the Nationalist Congress Party. A senior party figure has challenged the procedure and requested another vote.
Sachchidanand Singh, national secretary and Jharkhand state president, issued a legal notice on July 9 questioning the February 26, 2026 election. The notice was sent to Sunetra Pawar as president, Praful Patel as executive president, and Brijmohan Srivastava as secretary.
Singh stated that the election violated the party constitution and should be invalidated. He asked for the results to be cancelled and a new vote held under an independent officer. Until then, he demanded the outcome and updated office-bearer list be considered void.
Singh has served in the party for about 15 years and received his national secretary post in December 2023. He was not part of the executive committee that met on February 26.
The challenge concerns events after Ajit Pawar’s death on January 28, 2026. Singh noted the party submitted a revised constitution to the Election Commission on February 17, giving Patel authority as working president until a successor was chosen.
Singh argued only Patel could call the national executive meeting. He questioned how Srivastava could organise the February 26 session. The notice also cited a February 18 letter to the commission that lacked approval from executive members.
The move may reopen discussion on the leadership change after Ajit Pawar’s death. No response has come from Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel or other leaders.
