NCP (SP) dissolves 22-member state spokespersons panel amid restructuring

The Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) dissolved its panel of 22 State spokespersons on Tuesday night, a move that party officials say is part of a broader organisational restructuring. National-level spokespersons of the party remain unaffected by the decision.

A party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the decision was taken by the party’s State president and applies only to the State-level spokespersons. “This does not apply to the national spokespersons,” the leader told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Currently, only two State spokespersons — Mahesh Tapase and Vidya Chavan — have been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the party before media organisations. The dissolution comes at a time when the party is undergoing organisational changes and amid speculation about its possible support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra.

State party president Shashikant Shinde said the decision was taken to provide opportunities to new party functionaries. “New party functionaries should get an opportunity. This does not mean injustice is being done towards anyone. Several changes are being made in the party. This is a part of it. New spokespersons will soon be appointed. I will hold district-wise meetings from 15th or 16th of August. We intend to carry out many changes in the organisational structure,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Mr. Shinde also dismissed reports that he had not been in communication with the top leadership. “As the State president, I work in close coordination with Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil,” he said.

A few days earlier, Mr. Shinde had appointed a new president for the party’s students’ wing, along with several other appointments. According to a party leader, the recent changes reflect the party’s system of evaluating performance and making decisions. “It is the party’s system to evaluate performance and take decisions. Mr. Shinde will now look at appointing his own team in key positions,” the leader said.

Confusion arose briefly on Wednesday morning after the party’s national spokesperson Anish Gawande posted a gratitude message on social media, thanking the party for the opportunity given to him over the last two years. He later clarified to The Hindu that national spokespersons continue in their positions.

The restructuring comes amid political realignments in Maharashtra, where the NCP-SP has been part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. Political observers note that the party’s internal changes are being watched closely for signals about its future alliances. However, party leaders have maintained that the latest move is purely organisational in nature.

The party has not yet announced a timeline for appointing new State spokespersons, but Mr. Shinde indicated that district-wise meetings beginning mid-August would be part of the process. These meetings are expected to help the State leadership assess the party’s ground-level structure and make further appointments accordingly.