Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s remarks about senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel being appointed the party’s new national president created a stir in Maharashtra on Sunday (February 1, 2026), with Mr. Patel denying it and calling it “completely baseless and factually incorrect.” The post has been vacant since the tragic death of party chief Ajit Pawar earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refuted veteran politician Sharad Pawar’s claims about the merger of his faction of the NCP with the faction previously headed by his late nephew. Mr. Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP currently sits in the Opposition, while the late Ajit Pawar’s NCP is part of the ruling alliance.
Answering a question on the reallocation of portfolios, Mr. Fadnavis said that he had kept the finance department, earlier handled by the junior Pawar, with himself, after due consultation with the NCP leadership.
No decision on NCP chief yet
Mr. Praful Patel categorically dismissed Mr. Goyal’s claims in a social media post. “The Nationalist Congress Party functions on democratic principles, and any decision of this nature would be taken only after due consultation with senior leaders, MLAs, office-bearers, and by respecting the collective will and sentiments of all party members. As a national party, the NCP strictly follows established procedures in such matters,” he said on his X handle on Sunday (February 1, 2026).
