NCP's Sunetra Pawar Calls for Introspection After MLC Poll Defeat

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has called for introspection following the party's disappointing performance in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.

Pawar stated that electoral victories and defeats are part of the democratic process and that the party needs to examine the reasons behind its performance. The NCP suffered a significant setback in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’ constituency, where its candidate and three-time sitting MLC Satish Chavan lost to Dr Pratapsinh Patil of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

The ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the NCP, won only two of the five teachers’ and graduates’ constituency seats overall, while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won three. The results have triggered criticism within the Mahayuti, with BJP leaders blaming the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for failing to support its alliance partners in certain constituencies.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel has also called for organisational reforms, describing the result as a wake-up call and stressing that the party cannot afford to ignore the message conveyed by voters. He termed the outcome a “clear warning” and called for immediate introspection within the organisation.