Sunil Tatkare’s late-night visit to Silver Oak triggers fresh NCP storm; Rohit Pawar claims 22 MLAs may shift to BJP

Mumbai’s political circles were buzzing on Wednesday after NCP state president Sunil Tatkare’s late-night meeting with Sharad Pawar triggered a fresh round of speculation over possible defections and a wider reshuffle within the party.

The meeting at Sharad Pawar’s Silver Oak residence came at a time when unease within the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction has already intensified over changes in the party’s national executive structure and the apparent sidelining of several senior leaders.

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Adding fuel to the political chatter, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that a major political realignment could soon unfold in Maharashtra. Addressing reporters, he alleged that Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel may contest elections through the BJP along with 22 NCP legislators.

“Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel are set to contest through the BJP, taking 22 NCP MLAs with them. Even some NCP MLAs from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena are in contact with the BJP,” Rohit Pawar claimed.

He also alleged that Maval MLA Sunil Shelke was preparing to contest on a BJP ticket.

Taking a swipe at Tatkare’s meeting with Sharad Pawar, Rohit Pawar remarked sarcastically, “Perhaps Sunil Tatkare simply missed the tea at Silver Oak.”

Tatkare dismisses political speculation around Sharad Pawar meeting

Soon after the speculation gathered pace, Tatkare issued a clarification on X, insisting that the visit had no political agenda.

According to Tatkare, he had visited Sharad Pawar to enquire about his health after the veteran leader recently underwent treatment at Breach Candy Hospital.

“The primary reason for the visit was to check on Sharad Pawar’s health following his recent treatment at Breach Candy Hospital,” Tatkare said, adding that there were no political discussions during the meeting.

He also described the interaction as part of Maharashtra’s political culture that often rises above party divisions. Tatkare noted that Sharad Pawar had mentored him for decades and played a key role in shaping his political career.

However, the timing of the meeting has become politically sensitive as it comes days after changes in the NCP’s national executive structure sparked confusion within the Ajit Pawar camp.

Changes in NCP executive trigger questions over senior leaders’ roles

The latest controversy began after documents related to the NCP’s national executive and working committee were submitted to the Election Commission of India.

The documents appeared to reduce the prominence of several senior leaders, including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil.

While Praful Patel was included in the National Working Committee as the party’s Rajya Sabha leader, there was no mention of his earlier role as National Working President. Similarly, Tatkare was identified only as the party’s Lok Sabha leader, without reference to his role as Maharashtra unit president or National General Secretary.

When reporters later asked Tatkare whether he continued to hold the post of General Secretary, he chose not to respond directly, further intensifying speculation over possible friction within the party.

The Ajit Pawar faction has maintained that omissions in party documents were clerical errors. Sunetra Pawar had also termed the missing designations a “typo”.

But the Sharad Pawar camp sees the developments as signs of deeper unrest within the party and possible political movement ahead of future elections.

The revised organisational structure also gave prominent responsibilities to younger leaders from the Pawar family. Parth Pawar was assigned the role of general secretary, while Jay Pawar was named national secretary, disciplinary committee president and treasurer.

Former minister Manikrao Kokate, who had resigned earlier amid controversy over playing cards in the Legislative Council, was also accommodated in the National Working Committee as a member.

Other names included in the committee are Chetan Tupe, Shekhar Nikam, Sana Malik, Saroj Ahire, Avinash Adik, Dhiraj Sharma and Arunachal Pradesh MLA Toko Tatung.

Notably, former national chief spokesperson Brijmohan Shrivastav was left out of both the National Executive and the National Working Committee.