Fmr min frontrunner for NCP (SP) president post

The party is keen on appointing a Maratha; Sharad Pawar to take a call on Tuesday

- Faisal Malik

Eight months after the debacle in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the NCP (SP) is looking for a major leadership change. The party's state president Jayant Patil is on his way out, and party president Sharad Pawar is likely to select his successor on Tuesday. Former minister Shashikant Shinde is believed to be the top contender for the position while Rajesh Tope and Sunil Bhusara are also in the running.

Confirming the move, (SP) spokesman Amol Matele said, “Our chief Sharad Pawar will decide on the name at our party's state executive committee meeting on July 15.”

The party leadership decided to replace Patil after he made it clear that he did not want to continue as state president. Patil, who was appointed as state chief in April 2018, will relinquish the position after more than seven years.