New Delhi : Amid growing speculation over the future leadership of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following the death of its national president Ajit Pawar, working president Praful Patel on Sunday dismissed reports. Patel said media reports about his appointment as NCP national president were “totally baseless” and had “no truth”.
I have noted few reports circulating in the media regarding my appointment as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party. I wish to state with absolute clarity that these reports are totally baseless and lack any truth, Patel said. He stressed that the party would follow its established internal process in choosing its leadership. The Nationalist Congress Party is a democratic institution.
A decision of this magnitude will only be made by consulting our senior leadership and MLAs, engaging with our dedicated party office-bearers, and respecting the sentiments and collective will of all our party members. The clarification comes days after Ajit Pawar (66), who was serving as NCP national president and Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, died in a plane crash in his hometown of Baramati on January 28.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s death has also affected ongoing talks between the two NCP factions. The merger discussions, which had reached an advanced stage, have now been put on the back burner.
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