Mumbai: Just a day after the announcement of Maharashtra’s Assembly elections, set for November 20, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, is facing internal unrest. Discontent among key party figures has surfaced, prompting party leadership to issue strong warnings against dissent.

The issue came to light when senior NCP legislator Satish Chavan publicly criticized the Mahayuti government, of which NCP is a key ally, for failing to address the critical issues of community reservations. Chavan specifically highlighted the ongoing unrest surrounding Maratha reservation protests led by Manoj Jarange Patil and claimed that the government’s inaction has resulted in a troubling rise in suicides among Maratha youth.

Chavan’s remarks have led to a swift response from NCP’s state president, Sunil Tatkare, who called the statement "unacceptable" and out of line with the party’s stance as a coalition partner in the Mahayuti government. Tatkare emphasized that such statements, particularly during election season, would not be tolerated, and disciplinary action against Chavan was under consideration. "The party cannot afford anti-government or anti-party rhetoric at such a crucial time," Tatkare asserted, adding that he would discuss the matter directly with NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

In a related development, Pune city NCP chief Deepak Mankar has expressed frustration over being overlooked for nomination to the state council from the Governor’s quota. While Tatkare acknowledged Mankar’s concerns as understandable, he clarified that Mankar’s situation was different from Chavan’s outright criticism of the coalition.

Compounding the party’s troubles is the potential defection of another senior member, Rajendra Shingne, a legislator from Vidarbha. Reports suggest that Shingne may leave Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction to join the rival group led by Sharad Pawar.

As the election date draws closer, these internal rifts threaten to destabilize the NCP's preparations, raising concerns about the party's unity and its standing within the Mahayuti alliance. The leadership is now focused on managing the growing dissent while aiming to maintain a united front as they head into a crucial electoral battle.