Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar appointed former Union ministers Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents of the party.
The announcement was made at a meeting of the NCP’s national executive in Mumbai. Union minister Patel, a former civil aviation minister, is a senior leader of the NCP and has been a member of Parliament since 1991. He is considered to be a close confidante of Pawar. Sule, the daughter of Pawar, is a Lok Sabha MP from Baramati in Maharashtra. She is also the president of the NCP’s youth wing.
The appointment of Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents is seen as a move by Pawar to strengthen the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Pawar has been the NCP president since its inception in 1999. He has said that he will not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The NCP is a key constituent of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra. The MVA also comprises the Shiv Sena and the Congress.
The MVA government has been facing a tough challenge from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has been trying to topple the government by engineering defections from the NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress.
The appointment of Patel and Sule as working presidents is seen as a move by Pawar to strengthen the NCP and counter the BJP’s challenge. In a statement, Pawar said that Patel and Sule have been appointed as working presidents “in view of the upcoming challenges”. He said that Patel and Sule are “experienced and capable leaders” who will “ensure the smooth functioning of the party”.
Pawar also thanked the NCP’s national executive for its support. He said that the NCP is “committed to serving the people of Maharashtra” and that it will “fight for the rights of the common man”.
Details about the new working presidents:
- Praful Patel is a former union minister who served in the portfolios of civil aviation, power, and heavy industries. He is also the president of the All India Football Federation. Patel is a popular leader in the NCP and is seen as a potential successor to Pawar.
- Supriya Sule is the daughter of Sharad Pawar and a member of the Rajya Sabha. She is also the president of the NCP’s youth wing. Sule is a rising star in the NCP and is seen as a potential future leader of the party.
The appointment of Patel and Sule as working presidents is a sign that the NCP is looking to the future.
