Mumbai, February 1, 2026 – A statement by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal regarding the leadership of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) created a stir in Maharashtra politics on Sunday. Goyal stated that Praful Patel had been appointed as the national president of the NCP, a claim that Patel himself has vehemently denied.

The incident occurred amidst heightened speculation surrounding the NCP's leadership, particularly following the recent death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Patel, currently serving as the NCP's working president, refuted Goyal's statement, calling it "completely baseless and factually incorrect". He emphasized that the NCP operates on democratic principles, and any such decision would only be made after thorough consultation with senior leaders, MLAs, office-bearers, and with respect to the collective sentiment of party members.

The confusion arose when Goyal, a BJP MP, stated that Patel had been appointed as the national president of the NCP. This information quickly spread, before Goyal clarified that he had received incorrect information from a journalist. He later apologized for the misleading statement, expressing regret for not verifying the information before sharing it with the media. Goyal acknowledged that the NCP continues to function under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.

Patel also took to social media platform X to address the reports, reiterating that the NCP adheres to established procedures in making such important decisions. He stressed the importance of collective decision-making within the party.

The NCP has been in a state of flux following the demise of Ajit Pawar, who was a key figure in the party. His death has triggered intense speculation about the future leadership and direction of the party. Adding to the complexity, Sharad Pawar's NCP-SP faction is currently in the opposition, while the NCP faction previously led by Ajit Pawar is part of the ruling alliance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also refuted claims made by Sharad Pawar regarding a potential merger of the two NCP factions.

Meanwhile, some NCP legislators are reportedly campaigning for Sunetra Pawar to be appointed as the national president. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has also commented on the desired qualities for the NCP leadership.

The incident involving Goyal's inaccurate statement has highlighted the sensitivity surrounding the NCP leadership succession and the intense political maneuvering within the state. It also underscores the importance of verifying information before making public statements, especially in the context of political developments.

Praful Patel has been associated with the NCP for a long time and also served as the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from 2009 to 2022. In June 2023, Sharad Pawar appointed Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents of the NCP.