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Saturday, January 10, 2026
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.

From Adarsh society to cooperatives scams: Why Maharashtra is BJP’s biggest ‘laundromat’

Manasi Phadke -
Since 2019, at least 6 major leaders have moved to BJP in Maharashtra in light of corruption allegations against them or family. At least seven others have become BJP allies.

Narwekar repeats Sena decision to rule Ajit Pawar faction as ‘real NCP’, MVA slams ‘copy paste’ order

Purva Chitnis -
Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar's verdict was based on legislative strength of the 2 NCP factions and followed EC’s ruling on the party name and symbol.

Political timing or a new era? NCP’s clock symbol holds significance for both Pawar factions

Manasi Phadke -
For Sharad Pawar faction, it is a personification of their leader himself, while for nephew Ajit Pawar's, it signifies changing times. ECI Tuesday gave the clock symbol to Ajit's faction.

Why Election Commission’s order on dispute between NCP factions is a flashback of ‘Sena vs Sena’

Manasi Phadke -
EC, in both cases, considered tests of party's objectives, constitution and majority in organisation and legislature, finally using legislative strength to settle row on party name, symbol.

EC recognises Ajit Pawar-faction as official NCP on basis of ‘legislative majority’, allots symbol

Purva Chitnis -
Comes a year after the body recognised Eknath Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena. Sharad Pawar faction calls it ‘murder of democracy’.

Amid series of blows for INDIA, MVA expands in Maharashtra, welcomes AAP, SP, Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA

Purva Chitnis -
More friendly partners joining us, says Sanjay Raut of Sena (UBT) after meeting on fresh inclusions, seat sharing.

After poll loss & hiatus, Parth Pawar back in action, helping dad Ajit strengthen NCP base in Pune

Manasi Phadke -
Parth had unsuccessfully contested 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Maval after Sharad Pawar bowed out to make way for his grand-nephew. He was Pawar family's 1st member to lose an election.

‘Don’t steal, have guts to form your own party’: Sanjay Raut tells Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar

PTI -
Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a rebellion by Shinde, while the NCP got divided after Ajit joined the state government along with 8 MLAs in July last year.

‘No thoughts to spare for rebels,’ Sharad Pawar on reconciliation with nephew Ajit

Manasi Phadke -
Ajit Pawar faction has been criticising Sharad Pawar, but the latter had so far largely remained silent on his nephew.

ED raids Sharad Pawar grandnephew’s firm over 2012 purchase of sick sugar company. NCP alleges vendetta

Purva Chitnis -
Baramati Agro was founded by Sharad Pawar’s older brother Appasaheb, whose grandson Rohit Pawar is a member of Maharashtra assembly. Rohit sided with Sharad Pawar when NCP split.
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