Raj Thackeray Sparks NCP Row: 'Patil, Not Patel, for Marathi Party Face'

• Raj Thackeray, MNS chief, criticized the appointment of a 'Patel' as NCP Working President, implying Praful Patel, stating a 'Patil' should lead a Marathi-rooted party.
• His comments came amidst Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, following the demise of Ajit Pawar.
• Raj Thackeray's statement on Twitter (X) intensified the 'outsider versus Marathi' debate within the NCP and Maharashtra politics.
• Rohit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar's nephew, expressed mixed emotions, congratulating her but lamenting the void left by Ajit Pawar.
• Sharad Pawar notably distanced himself from Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in ceremony, while other leaders praised it as a historic decision for women's empowerment.

Why It Matters: Raj Thackeray ignited a new debate in Maharashtra politics by questioning the leadership of NCP based on regional identity.