On June 1,Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) got caught in serious internal conflict over candidate selection for upcoming Pune Local Authorities Constituency Legislative Council election,set for June 18.
Deadline for nominations made whole atmosphere even more tense . Party loyalists were already unhappy after Vikram Kakade’s candidature was confirmed just day prior,and that decision seems to have opened old anger inside party.
Big scene reportedly happened during marathon two-hour meeting at ‘Jijai’ residence . Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar were among key figures present there,and even though Vikram Kakade was officially confirmed as candidate,reaction from senior loyalists was not calm at all .
Former MLA Vilas Lande,who was hoping for nomination,was clearly furious . He directly said,"Vikram Kakade has been given this candidature solely because of his financial muscle. If Ajit Dada were around today,he would have given this opportunity to loyal and hardworking party worker." That is not small complaint ah,it is straight attack on candidate selection .
Few things standing out clearly in this mess:
- Former MLA Lande criticised favoritism in candidate selection.
- Senior leader Suresh Ghule broke down emotionally over perceived injustices.
- Kakade’s quick induction showed Parth Pawar's influence within party.
And timing made it more bitter for Lande’s supporters because this whole disappointment came around Lande's birthday only . His remark that fielding Kakade would “surely strengthen the party in the future,” sounded more like sarcasm than support.
Then Suresh Ghule,State Vice President,also became emotional while speaking about his dedication to party . His pain was basically that loyal workers are getting ignored while Kakade,son of former MP Sanjay Kakade,is being pushed ahead.
But matter did not stop inside meeting room . Former MLA Sunil Tingre,close associate of late Ajit Pawar,reportedly stormed out of high-level meeting before induction ceremony and later filed his own nomination papers for same seat . That move clearly showed rebellion was not just verbal .
As Vikram Kakade and Sunil Tingre prepared nominations at same time,NCP office itself became chaotic,with workers openly confronting each other . For Mahayuti alliance,this is uncomfortable because Pune seat was expected to be stronghold,but now party discipline looks shaky .
And tbh,this can create real trouble if anger turns into cross-voting or split electorate . One candidate is official,another is rebel,senior loyalists are hurt,and workers are divided… so question is,how much damage will this internal fight actually do before June 18…
