Sharad Pawar In Delhi To Conduct NCP Working Committee Meet. Know What The Panel Can Do

As the tussle between the two NCP sides grows, it is imperative to check out what is the power of the working committee as per the NCP's constitution submitted to the EC.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar arrived in Delhi on Thursday to convene a working committee meeting of the party. The meeting follows a recent jibe by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who questioned when his 83-year-old uncle, Sharad Pawar, would retire from active politics. On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar gathered with 16 MLAs and party office-bearers, where they collected affidavits from the workers expressing their trust in the leadership of Sharad Pawar and Jayant Patil.

During the meeting, Sharad Pawar made a firm declaration, stating that the NCP's poll symbol, the clock, will remain under his ownership, countering the claim made by rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar had approached the Election Commission (EC) to stake his claim to the party's name and symbol.

The ongoing conflict between the two factions within the NCP has drawn attention to the powers and authority of the party's working committee as outlined in the NCP's constitution, submitted to the EC. 

NCP Constitution And Power Of Working Committee (WC) 

According to NCP's constitution, the working committee is composed of the Party President, the Leader of the Party in Parliament, and 23 other members. Out of these, 12 members are elected by the National Council (NC) following rules set by the working committee, while the remaining members are appointed by the President.

To hold a working committee meeting, a minimum of eight working committee members must be present, constituting a quorum. The working committee serves as the highest executive authority within the NCP. It is responsible for implementing party policies and programs, as established by the party and the NC, and is accountable to the NC. The working committee holds final authority in interpreting and applying the provisions of the NCP's constitution.

In addition to these powers, the working committee can frame rules for the organization's functioning, issue instructions consistent with the constitution, supervise and control State Committees, Union Territories and subordinate committees, take disciplinary action against committees or individuals (excluding the NC), and relax the application of specific provisions in special cases.

Members Of The NCP Working Committee

NCP during its national convention held in Delhi in September 2022, had appointed the national office-bearers and working committee. Besides Sharad Pawar, the 12-member NCP working committee included Praful Patel (Ajit Pawar faction), Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar (rebel NCP faction), Tatkare (Ajit Pawar faction), Chhagan Bhujbal (Ajit Pawar faction), Fouzia Khan, P C Chacko, among others. 

As the conflict within the NCP intensifies, the role and authority of the working committee become paramount in resolving the dispute between the two factions.