Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 30: A political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after photographs of late leader Ajit Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar were missing from a banner at a recent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) event.

The incident occurred during a felicitation programme for newly elected Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members in Raigad district on March 27, attended by state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare. The banner prominently featured Tatkare, his daughter and minister Aditi Tatkare, and his son Aniket Tatkare, but excluded Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar.

The omission triggered sharp reactions within the party, with Rohit Pawar alleging that senior leaders including Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel were attempting to consolidate control within the party at the expense of other factions.

Responding to the controversy, Aditi Tatkare issued an apology, describing the omission as an unintentional mistake at the local level. She emphasised that both Ajit Pawar and Sunetra Pawar hold an “unshakable” place in the party and cautioned against drawing broader conclusions from the incident.

Other party leaders dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, urging critics to focus on their own organisational matters.

The episode has once again highlighted ongoing factional tensions within the NCP, with internal rivalries continuing to surface in public events.