Shashikant Shinde (L) takes over as new Maharashtra unit chief of NCP (SP).
Credit: X/@shindespeaks
Mumbai: The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) witnessed the biggest leadership change since the June-July 2023 split in the party with firebrand leader Shashikant Shinde taking over as the new Maharashtra unit President replacing veteran Jayant Patil.
A former two-time MLA and former Water Resource Minister, Shinde is currently an MLC.
“I am fortunate that I have been given such a responsibility,” Shinde said and thanked Sharad Pawar for the opportunity.
“I will seek guidance from all my senior leaders and take along everybody…seniors and juniors everybody,” he said, adding that the main responsibility is to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. “I will call meetings of all cells of the party and hold face-to-face meetings,” he said.
Incidentally, both Shinde and Patil are Marathas and hail from Western Maharashtra’s sugar belt, where the party has significant presence and stronghold - though it now faces challenge from the BJP and its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
Shinde (61) hails from Satara district while Patil (63) is from Islampur in Sangli district.
The leadership change comes at a time when Patil, an eight-time MLA is being wooed by the ruling Maha Yuti.
The announcement of Shinde’s appointment came during the meeting of the state executive held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium in Mumbai.
Former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh proposed the name of Shinde for the post of the new state President - which was passed unanimously.
Thereafter, Sharad Pawar announced Shinde’s name as the new state chief.
In his opening address, Shinde hailed the leadership of Patil, the outgoing chief, saying that he shouldered the responsibility of the party during the most difficult times.