New Delhi: Rohit Pawar, an MLA of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), on Wednesday levelled serious allegations of an internal power grab within the party, claiming that certain leaders attempted to assume control by misrepresenting changes to the party constitution before the Election Commission of India, The Wire reported.
Addressing a press conference, Pawar alleged that shortly after the death of Ajit Pawar, a group comprising Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and Brijmohan Srivastava wrote to the poll body claiming that the party constitution had been amended. According to him, the communication sought to vest sweeping powers in the working president, a position allegedly held by Patel at the time.
Pawar further claimed that key stakeholders within the party, including Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar, were not informed about the purported move. He said that after assuming leadership, Sunetra Pawar wrote to the Election Commission, urging it to disregard any correspondence sent during the transition period following Ajit Pawar’s demise.
The NCP leader also referred to statements by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who had earlier indicated that Patel had become party president before later calling it an error.
In addition, Pawar alleged that efforts were made to suppress discussion around Ajit Pawar’s death during the Maharashtra Assembly’s Budget session. He further claimed that a planned press conference by Jay Pawar was halted due to pressure from political figures, including leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pawar has demanded a criminal investigation into the death and described the alleged correspondence as part of a broader conspiracy to control the party.