A recent split within the National Congress Party (NCP) has brought the ownership of the party office in Pimpri-Chinchwad into focus. Laxman Jagtap, who acquired the office space in 2003, had not staked claim to it until his passing, raising questions about its ownership.
The NCP office in Kharalwadi has served as the party’s headquarters for the past two decades. Laxman Jagtap, the former NCP city unit chief, purchased the space in the name of his brother, Vijay Jagtap, after the party did not have its own office. It is noteworthy that despite his significant role in the party, neither Laxman Jagtap nor his family asserted their ownership rights over the years.
Laxman Jagtap had a distinguished political career, initially working for the Congress and later joining the NCP. He held various positions within the party, including corporator, city mayor, city president, and eventually becoming an MLA after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contesting in the state assembly elections of 2014 and 2019. Sadly, he passed away on January 3, 2023, after battling illness. His wife has since been elected as a BJP MLA from the Chinchwad assembly constituency in the subsequent bypoll.
During a recent meeting of the NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, attended by former officials aligned with both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, it remains unclear what decision was reached. Ajit Gavhane, the party’s city unit chief, has remained silent on the matter, leaving the situation unresolved.
Former MLA Vilas Lande had previously declared his loyalty to Sharad Pawar, but Gavhane, who is related to Lande, has not clarified his stance. Following the meeting, certain office-bearers held a separate gathering outside the party office to discuss and convey the decision to all concerned parties.
The split within the NCP at the state level has reverberated in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the Tuesday meeting is likely to be the final gathering of the combined factions. Moving forward, either Sharad Pawar’s faction or Ajit Pawar’s group will operate from the office, depending on the outcome of the ownership dispute.
As the party faces internal divisions and uncertainty, stakeholders are closely watching how the situation unfolds and what impact it will have on the NCP’s future in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The clarification of ownership rights over the party office will be crucial to maintain stability and ensure smooth functioning for the respective faction that claims it.
The NCP leadership, including both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, needs to address the ownership dispute promptly and transparently to uphold the party’s credibility and unity. Clarity on the matter will also help provide guidance to party workers and supporters who are eager to understand the future course of the NCP in Pimpri-Chinchwad’s political landscape.
As discussions continue and decisions are made, Pimpri-Chinchwad remains a microcosm of the larger challenges faced by the NCP in Maharashtra’s dynamic political landscape.
