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Friday, November 14, 2025
TopicNCP

Topic: NCP

The NCP or Nationalist Congress Party was founded in 1999 by Sharad Pawar after he quit the Indian National Congress (INC) along with Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar. While the NCP started as a national party with values of ‘Gandhian secularism’ and ‘progressive and modern progress’, its biggest electoral success has been in Maharashtra, Pawar’s home state. In 2023, the Election Commission withdrew the party’s status as a ‘national party’ as the NCP could no longer meet the criteria of such a designation.

As of 2024, the party is split into two factions — one led by founder Sharad Pawar and another by his nephew Ajit Pawar. The faction led by Ajit is in power in Maharashtra along with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde). This faction today is knonw as the Nationalist Congress Party, having been granted the original party name and symbol by the Supreme Court. The other faction is called the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Other important leaders include Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and Rajesh Tope.

Family, political style, strategy — why Sharad Pawar isn’t attacking rebels, unlike ally Thackeray

Manasi Phadke -
After Eknath Shinde split Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray attacked the rebels tooth and nail. That hasn’t been the case with Sharad Pawar since nephew Ajit Pawar split NCP last month.

Unsure who to back in Pawar tussle, many NCP MLAs sat on fence throughout assembly session

Purva Chitnis -
Many NCP MLAs barely attended 3-week monsoon session that ended on 4 August. Those who did sit in the House refrained from throwing barbs at each other. 

‘Taking Hindutva to Bahujan samaj’ — why firebrand Sambhaji Bhide is important for BJP-Shinde govt

Manasi Phadke -
Sambhaji Bhide, a controversial figure revered by Maharashtra politicians, is in the eye of a storm for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Gandhi, Jyotiba Phule, among others.

In backdrop of NCP split, Uddhav dismisses talk of patching up with cousin Raj — ‘no such discussion’

Manasi Phadke -
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says there have been no talks with MNS's Raj Thackeray. Also praises Rahul Gandhi as 'understanding' in interview to party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Potential allies to rivals? Why BJP & MNS have been sparring post NCP split

Manasi Phadke -
Analysts say BJP is secure in alliance with Shinde-led Sena & Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, it doesn't need another ally. The MNS voter, though, is anti-NCP, so it can't ally with MVA.

‘Bid to capture BMC’ — Why BJP minister’s office at civic body HQ has Oppn up in arms

Purva Chitnis -
Mumbai (suburbs) Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha is 1st minister in 75 yrs to have an office at BMC building. Ex-BJP corporators allowed to use space for public outreach.

Ajit camp meets Sharad Pawar 2 days in a row, NCP chief’s silence keeps both factions on tenterhooks

Purva Chitnis -
The 'impromptu' meetings took place at YB Chavan Centre where Sharad Pawar had gone for work, say MLAs from NCP chief's camp. Praful Patel says they requested him to keep party together.

Maharashtra: 9 NCP rebels rewarded with ministries, leader & Dy CM Ajit Pawar gets finance

ThePrint Team -
These 9 MLAs, along with MPs Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, have been expelled by NCP founder and Ajit Pawar’s uncle Sharad Pawar for anti-party activities.

Our take on Manipur schools’ re-opening, NCP power struggle, UCC debate—in 50 words

ThePrint Team -
ThePrint view on the most important issues this week.

Parties without ideology are endangered in the BJP-era. Even Congress needs a modernised doctrine

Shekhar Gupta -
Does ideology still matter? If you look at the big picture, ideology has become a stronger force than it’s been in decades. Except, it works only on one side – the BJP’s.
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Virat, Anushka, Bumrah selling sarias & cement, dentists, vets, Bihar walls painted in ‘rurbanisation’

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Over generations, Bihar’s bane has been its utter lack of urbanisation. But now, even Bihar is urbanising. Or let’s say, rurbanising. Two decades under Nitish Kumar have created a new elite in its cities.

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Defence

Turkey blocks transport of Apache choppers to India through its airspace, new route being worked out

Snehesh Alex Philip -
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National Interest

Bihar is where politics moves, and everything else stands still

Shekhar Gupta -
Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.

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