Following a split in the Nationalist Congress Party in July 2023, Jayant Patil continued to serve as the state president under the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) faction
Jayant Patil sided with Sharad Pawar after Ajit Pawar rebelled in 2023. File Pic
The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction has called for a general body meeting on Tuesday, party leaders said, amid ongoing speculation about a possible change in its Maharashtra unit leadership.
Some media reports suggest that the current state president Jayant Patil has resigned from his post, and that party MLC Shashikant Shinde may succeed him. When questioned about the same, Shinde said if he is given this opportunity. it would mark a significant turning point in his political career.
“On July 15, all party leaders will meet to discuss the future course of action,” he stated, according to news agency PTI.
Patil held the position of state president in the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) since 2018. Following the split in July 2023 — triggered by a rebellion by Ajit Pawar and other MLAs — Patil continued to serve in the same role under the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) faction.
NCP (SP) chief national spokesperson Jitendra Awhad in a statement on Saturday called reports of Patil's resignation “mischievous”.
A meeting has been called on July 15. "Let's see what happens," Awhad said, reported PTI.
There has been no official comment so far from the party or Patil about his resignation.
There have been reports in a section of media, including news channels, that Patil has stepped down from his post and Shashikant Shinde is set to succeed him.
On June 10, on the NCP's 26th foundation day, Patil hinted at stepping down from the post in the presence of party chief Sharad Pawar.
It is important for the party to give a chance to new faces, Patil had said, triggering an emotional reaction from workers who urged him to continue.
Patil, a Sharad Pawar loyalist, has been with him since the formation of the NCP in 1999. He sided with the Pawar senior after Ajit Pawar rebelled in 2023. An eight-term MLA from Islampur in Maharashtra's Sangli district, Patil has been representing the constituency for more than three decades.
He had served as the cabinet minister, holding charge of the Water Resources Department, in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray, according to PTI. Earlier, he served as the state's rural development minister (2009-2014), finance minister (1999- 2008) and home minister (2008- 2009).
In 2018, he was unanimously elected as the state president of the then-undivided NCP, replacing Sunil Tatkare.
(With PTI inputs)
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