Kolhapur: The political climate in Kolhapur’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is showing visible signs of internal friction. Former Chandgad MLA Rajesh Patil has openly questioned the leadership style of senior party leader and state minister Hasan Mushrif, reigniting speculation about a power struggle brewing within the district unit.
Although Patil and Mushrif had once worked closely, especially after Patil’s 2019 Assembly win, things appear to have shifted since Patil’s defeat in the 2024 elections. Once seen as a rising organizational face in Kolhapur, Patil has now returned to grassroots politics and is steadily voicing concerns over what he sees as a centralization of power in Mushrif’s hands.
His recent remarks have put the spotlight on whether the NCP in Kolhapur is suffering from an internal leadership imbalance. While Patil stopped short of naming Mushrif directly in his criticism, his message was clear: loyal party workers, especially those who’ve supported the NCP since its formation in 1999, should not be ignored while welcoming new entrants ahead of the local self-government elections.
Expand the party, yes, but not at the cost of those who have stood with it for decades
Rajesh Patil, Former MLA
The rift seems to go beyond organizational concerns. A recent controversy over the proposed Shaktipith highway, which originally had a route planned through Kagal, added fuel to the fire. As opposition to the route grew in Kagal, suggestions were made, reportedly from within the party, that the highway could be diverted through Chandgad instead. Patil objected to this strongly, saying Chandgad should not be treated as a dumping ground for politically sensitive projects.
Political analysts believe that Patil-Mushrif friction echoes the NCP’s internal issues in other parts of Maharashtra, notably Beed, where MLAs Dhananjay Munde and Prakash Solanki are engaged in a visible turf war. Similar patterns of parallel power centres, loyalty concerns, and regional imbalances are increasingly defining Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.
For now, Mushrif has chosen not to publicly respond to Patil’s remarks. But the silence only deepens the question, is Kolhapur NCP on the verge of a full-blown internal conflict? With local elections looming, party unity in this key western Maharashtra district may be tested more than ever.
