Sharad Pawar’s NCP-SP dissolves spokesperson panel amid organisational rejig

Amid the ongoing sweeping organizational changes, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP has dissolved the panel of party spokespersons and cancelled all appointment to the posts with immediate effect. The NCP-SP currently has 22 spokespersons to represent it in the media.

“With the approval of the party's Provincial President and former Minister Hon. Shri. Shashikant Shinde, effective immediately from today, August 4, 2026, all previous appointments to the position of party spokesperson are hereby canceled until further orders,” stated the party in a post on X.

“Furthermore, during this period, former MLA Hon. Smt. Vidya Chavan and Shri. Mahesh Tapase will represent the party's official stance before the media as the party's authorized spokespersons. All concerned parties should take note of this,” it added.

Why panel was dissolved

Although, the party leadership did not make any official announcement regarding the reason behind the changes, an Indian Express report quoting sources stated that the performance of several spokespersons did not match the party’s expectations and hence instead of removing them individually the entire panel was dissolved.

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Reacting to the development, Vikas Lawande, a party leader, said that he no longer holds the post of the party spokesperson.

"For any worker or party office-bearer, the party does not exist; rather, workers and office-bearers exist for the party-this has always been my firm belief. It is because of the party that the identity of workers and office-bearers is built," Lawande stated in a post on X.

Lawande pledges commitment

He further stated that he is "grateful to the party leaders for whatever trust they showed in me until today and for giving me the opportunity as party spokesperson".

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"I remain committed to the party's fundamental ideology and will continue to stay active for the party. To make the party organization even stronger, henceforth too, I will take whatever responsibility the party gives me and remain active for the party's democratic, progressive, and secular ideals. Politics for social work-this remains my eternal principle," Lawande added.

Gawande recalls tenure

Anish Gawande, another spokesperson, appointed two years back, described the tenure as a “whirlwind on the front lines".

"From shaping our election communications strategy to leading a delegation to Kashmir post the Pahalgam attack, and navigating intense cultural debates (from Aurangzeb's tomb to India's Got Latent), it's been a whirlwind on the front lines. But what has truly set this rollercoaster ride apart is the opportunity to learn directly from Pawar Saheb. Observing his legendary acumen and sharing my insights with him has been a masterclass of a lifetime," Gawande added as quoted by NDTV.

Wider organisational rejig

The NCP (SP) has continued with organisational changes, making fresh appointments across several party wings over the past two weeks. Shinde recently named Sushil Borde as president of the student wing, Vishal Wakadkar as youth wing president and Ram Rathod as head of the teachers’ cell. The changes have now reached the party’s panel of spokespersons.

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Shinde has also been touring Maharashtra to review the party organisation and its functioning. Sources said the work of several spokespersons had fallen short of expectations. The leadership, however, chose to replace the panel instead of removing individual members.

Political churn in NCP

The move came as the Congress and ruling NCP traded charges over the latter referring to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as “Gungi Gudiya” (silent doll). At the same time, reports of differences within the NCP (SP) have surfaced over whether the Sharad Pawar-led party should consider joining the ruling NDA.