Former MP’s exit triggers fear of wave of resignations in NCP
For Paranjpe, joining the Shinde-led Shiv Sena was a ghar wapsi, or homecoming, of sorts. He was an MP between 2009 and 2014 in the undivided Shiv Sena and joined the undivided NCP in 2012 ahead of the elections.
“I didn’t join Shiv Sena with a hope of any post, but I want to work for the party. This is my ghar wapsi. I always used to say that my DNA is that of a Shiv Sainik,” Paranjpe said during his induction into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
माझा डीएनए शिवसैनिकाचा आहे#Shivsena #Eknathshinde #Shivsenapakshapravesh pic.twitter.com/SPP4sNg0Lp
— Shivsena – शिवसेना (@Shivsenaofc) May 14, 2026
Paranjpe thanked all leaders of both NCPs with whom he has worked during the induction.
However, his former colleagues hinted that Paranjpe had been angry and restless for the past few days.
“I don’t know what exactly happened. But it is true that he was promised a Rajya Sabha seat when he had joined the NCP in 2012. He waited for 12 years. He felt he was being wronged and there was injustice against him. But I don’t know what happened now that he resigned,” NCP-AP leader Najeeb Mulla told the media.
Paranjpe denied these claims. “I am not angry. I didn’t work at the NCP with any hope for a post. I sincerely worked and fulfilled all the responsibilities given to me by my party. I have no qualms about the NCP,” he said.
NCP leaders, however, think Paranjpe’s resignation could open the floodgates and trigger a wave of resignations.
A senior NCP leader told ThePrint that several disgruntled leaders and workers within the party have emerged since the demise of Ajit Pawar. “With Paranjpe’s resignation, this might have a cascading effect.”
Political analyst Abhay Deshpande told ThePrint it was evident Paranjpe no longer had a political patron in the NCP.
“The commitments made by Ajit Pawar, he might have feared whether those would be fulfilled or not. Besides, there is no clarity on the role of Praful Patel and other senior leaders,” said Deshpande.
“Also, Paranjpe, belonging to Thane, it was easier for him to take that call. Others will also see what’s best for them. But one thing is sure, with the transition within the NCP after Ajit Pawar, many are now confused as the new generation has taken over.”
Also Read: How NCP convinced Congress to clear path for Sunetra Pawar’s election as Baramati MLA
Unease within NCP-AP
Since Ajit Pawar’s death, reports of unease in the party have grown. Rohit Pawar, an MLA from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, had earlier alleged that Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare wanted to take over the NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction after his death.
When Sunetra Pawar was chosen as national president of the party in February, she wrote to the Election Commission that any correspondence made between 28 January and the appointment of the new NCP president should be considered null and void.
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Sunetra Pawar later said it was a “clerical error.”
Sunil Tatkare met Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence in Mumbai a few days ago. Though the meeting was described as a visit to enquire about Pawar’s health, it sparked speculation about cracks within the party.
Before Ajit Pawar’s death, the NCP had a core committee of seven members: Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Dhananjay Munde and Hassan Mushrif, according to the leader quoted above.
“After the demise of Ajit dada, the committee existed until they selected Parth Pawar for the Rajya Sabha and Zeeshan Siddique as the MLC. But post that, in the new list of office bearers that Sunetra Pawar issued, these members don’t find a mention,” the leader said.
“Also, in the last two days, there weren’t any efforts from her side to clear the misunderstanding, if any. So these members are feeling humiliated and sidelined. And so this might be one of the reasons for his resignation,” the leader added.
