Rupali Patil Thombare denies resignation from Pune NCP post, accuses Rupali Chakankar of targeting her
Rupali Patil Thombare
After reports claimed she resigned as Pune NCP working president, Rupali Patil Thombare says she never quit and instead levels serious allegations against Rupali Chakankar.
Pune, December 1, 2025 – The tension inside the NCP’s Pune unit has intensified after Rupali Patil Thombare clarified that she has not resigned from her post as the city’s working president. A message claiming her resignation had circulated widely, but Thombare has dismissed it and said she remains very much in the party. She added that the controversy is being fuelled internally and directed strong allegations at senior party leader Rupali Chakankar.
Thombare said attempts were being made to push her out of key positions and blamed Chakankar directly for influencing decisions against her. Her removal from the party’s spokesperson list last month had already raised questions, and now Thombare claims it was part of an organised attempt to sideline her. She alleged that Chakankar had been interfering in party decisions and using her position in the Women’s Commission to strengthen her own political influence.
The dispute between the two leaders escalated after Thombare criticised Chakankar during a public discussion related to a suicide case involving a young doctor from Phaltan. Thombare accused Chakankar of mishandling the matter and demanded her resignation. The party responded by issuing a show-cause notice to Thombare for speaking against a senior leader. She later replied to the notice but stood by her earlier comments.
Following the reply, reports began circulating that Thombare had resigned, triggering speculation about her exit from the party. Now she has clarified that she has no plans to leave NCP and that she will contest future elections under the party symbol. She said she is being targeted because she speaks openly and refuses to compromise with what she considers wrongdoing within the party.
Party insiders say the dispute reflects a broader internal split brewing for months. Both leaders command their own support bases in Pune, and the ongoing friction has unsettled workers. Some believe the public nature of the conflict could damage the party’s image at a crucial time, especially with local-body elections approaching. Others say this episode exposes the deeper factional alignments shaping NCP’s internal politics.
Thombare’s latest remarks have added more fuel to the conflict. She accused Chakankar of using her influence to suppress younger leaders and block organisational changes. She also accused a section of the leadership of running coordinated campaigns to discredit her within the party.
Despite the escalating tension, Thombare continues to maintain that she is loyal to the NCP and that her fight is against individuals, not the organisation. She said she would remain active in Pune politics and keep raising issues she believes are important, regardless of internal pressure.
The coming days are expected to be crucial. The party will have to decide whether to attempt reconciliation or escalate disciplinary action. For now, Thombare’s denial of resignation and her direct allegations against Chakankar have placed the party in an uncomfortable spotlight, with supporters on both sides waiting to see how the leadership responds.
