Nationalist Congress Party Origins

The day when Shri Sharad Pawar, Shri P. A. Sangma and Shri Tariq Anwar took courage in the Working Committee of the Congress(I) questioning the dynastic and authoritarian style of functioning of the party organisation and the immature handling of the political situation created by the withdrawal of support of BJP Govt. by Jayalalitha was a turning moment in the political history of India. Little did the self-seeking leaders of Congress(I) at that time think that the mass base of the Congress(I) will be eroded, so soon and at such great speed as was seen thereafter. Thousands of Congress workers who were feeling the burden of the yoke of dynastic authoritarianism and the suffocation caused by the lack of internal democracy took this opportunity to throw that yoke away and rally round Pawarji and his colleagues to build up a nationalist democratic and progressive political organisation which will offer a viable national alternative to both communal fascist BJP and the dynastic authoritarian Congress(I).

Formation of the Party

25th May 1999 is the Red Letter Day for the country. It was on that day Nationalist leaders Shri Sharad Pawar, Shri P. A. Sangma, Shri Tariq Anwar and hundreds of their political supporters assembled at No. 6, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road, New Delhi and took the historic decision to form a new Political Party under the name 'Nationalist Congress Party'. Shri Sharad Pawar was elected President, Shri P. A. Sangma and Shri Tariq Anwar, as General Secretaries of that party. The issue raised by Shri Sharad Pawar, Shri P. A. Sangma and Shri Tariq Anwar that no person of foreign origin shall adorn the highest seats of power like the President of India, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Chief of Army or Election Commission of our country, though turned down by the coteries that managed the Congress (I) soon it became evidently clear that they only echoed the thinking of the people, whose ancestors with throbbing spirit of nationalism and craze for democracy and equality had sacrificed even their lives in their fight against slavery, political, social and economic. Hundreds of leaders and thousands of workers of Congress all over the country came forward to strengthen the hands of the national leaders and to take up the party organisation work.

The founding principles

  • Strengthening the forces of nationalism with an emphasis on the egalitarian and secular ethos of the Indian Republic and combating fundamentalism and sectarianism.
  • Maintaining the unity and integrity of India by strengthening federalism and decentralization of power up to the village level.
  • Promoting economic growth through competition, self-reliance, individual initiative and enterprises with emphasis on equality and social justice.
  • Rule of law and constitutional order based on Parliamentary and participatory democracy.
  • Empowerment of weaker sections, the schedule castes and tribes, OBCs, the disabled and the women.
  • Strengthening the forces of peace within the country attempting to secure universal non-discriminatory disarmament
  • Institutionalized and democratic functioning of the party.

Recognition for NCP as a state party in Andaman & Nicobar

With the Nationalist Congress Party, the NCP got recognised as a state recognised party in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Consequent on the amalgamation of Indian Congress (Socialist) a recognised state Party in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. But instead of allotting the symbol 'Charkha', which NCP was entitled for, the Election Commission of India asked the party to submit a list of three symbols in order of preference and finally the symbol 'Watch' was allotted as party's symbol for the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Office Bearers Announcement

After the approval of the amalgamation of Indian Congress (Socialist) with NCP by the Election Commission of India, party President Shri Sharad Pawar announced Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, Ex-MLA, who was the General Secretary of the Indian Congress (Socialist) as General Secretary of NCP and the new panel of office-bearers of the party was announced as under:

  • Shri Sharad Pawar - President
  • Shri P. A. Sangma - General Secretary
  • Shri Tariq Anwar - General Secretary
  • Shri Devendra Nath Dwivedi - General Secretary
  • Shri T. P. Peethambaran Master - General Secretary
  • Shri Datta Meghe - Treasurer

Announcement of the NCP Working Committee members

  • Shri Sharad Pawar
  • Shri P. A. Sangma
  • Shri Tariq Anwar
  • Shri Devendra Nath Dwivedi
  • Shri T. P. Peethambaran Master
  • Shri Datta Meghe
  • Shri Sarat Chandra Sinha
  • Shri Praful Patel
  • Haji Salamat Ullah
  • Smt Veena Nayyar
  • Shri K. Prabhakar Reddy
  • Shri Jagdeep Dhanker
  • Shri Sudhakar Naik
  • Shri Baleshwar Ram
  • Shri K. V. Keditsu
  • Shri A.C. Shanmukha Das
  • Chaudhary Ved Pal

Appointment of National Secretaries

  • Dr. Ram Manohar Tripathi
  • Prof. Devi Prasad Tripathi
  • Shri Vijay Dubey
  • Shri Aquil Haider
  • Shri Sukhbir Singh Panwar
  • Kanwar Pratap Singh Chaudhary
  • Smt. Husna Subhani
  • Smt. Minati Sarma
  • Shri Laxmi Narain Induria
  • Shri Zafar Akhtar
  • Shri Shyam Bihari

Elections to the Parliament

Soon after the launching of the party, elections to the parliament were announced. NCP contested 131 seats to the Parliament. The state-wise number of candidates is given hereunder:

  • A & N Islands - 1
  • Andhra Pradesh - 4
  • Arunachal Pradesh - 2
  • Assam - 9
  • Bihar - 16
  • Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 1
  • Delhi - 7
  • Goa - 2
  • Gujarat - 7
  • Haryana - 2
  • Himachal Pradesh - 3
  • Jammu & Kashmir - 2
  • Karnataka - 2
  • Madhya Pradesh - 9
  • Maharashtra - 37
  • Manipur - 2
  • Meghalaya - 1
  • Orissa - 3
  • Punjab - 3
  • Rajasthan - 7
  • Tamil Nadu - 1
  • West Bengal - 10

  • Total 131

Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh & Maharashtra

Following candidates were elected to the parliament:

  • Shri Sharad Pawar - Maharashtra
  • Smt Nivedita Sambhajirao Mane - Maharashtra
  • Shri Sriniwas Dadasaheb Patil - Maharashtra
  • Shri Ashok Namdevrao Patil - Maharashtra
  • Shri Sadasivarao Dadoba Mandlik - Maharashtra
  • Shri Laxmanrao P. Yadav Patil - Maharashtra
  • Shri P. A. Sangma - Meghalaya
  • Shri Holkhomang Haokip - Manipur

The members elected from Dadra & Nagar Haveli, though contested as independent candidate is our own party man. Three other members elected from Maharashtra as candidates of our alliance parties are continuing as associated members of our Parliamentary Party.

Assembly Performance

58 members were elected to the Assembly from Maharashtra and 4 members to the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.

Participation of Government

In order to prevent the Sivasena-BJP combine, which had been voted out by the people in the elections, coming back to power in Maharashtra, the NCP had to joined hands with the INC in Maharashtra to form a government there with Shri Chhagan Bhujbal as the Deputy Chief Minister.

We had to bow down to local political pressure in Meghalaya and join the coalition government led by the UDP there despite the three member BJP also being a partner to the government, as it was within the interest of our partly as well as that of the state to provide a government there and avoid an election imposed upon the state by our party's stand. The party unit in Kerala was already a part of the Left Democratic Front and their government there.
Besides, the Party has its MLA's in the following states:

  • Arunachal Pradesh - 4
  • Maharashtra - 58
  • Meghalaya - 15
  • Kerala - 3
  • Goa - 1
  • Haryana - 1
  • Manipur - 5

Appointment of Treasurer

On 20th November 1999, Shri Praful Patel was appointed as Treasurer of the party consequent on Shri Datta Meghe's resignation from the post to join the Ministry in Maharashtra.

Disciplinary Action Committee

Later on 'Disciplinary Action Committee'was constituted with Shri Praful Patel as its Chairman.

National Status for the Party

After the assessment of the performance of various political parties in the Parliamentary Elections, the Election Commission of India conferred the National status to our party. This is the first instance in the history of our country of a new party contesting the national elections for the first time after its formation getting the status of National Party that too within a few months after its formation as in the case of NCP.

NCP in Parliament

NCP was allotted an official room for the Party in Parliament House by the Speaker on 22nd December 1999 and Shri Kanwar Pratap Singh Chaudhary was appointed as Party Secretary in Parliament.

First Extended Working Committee Meeting

The first extended Working Committee of the Party was held at Parliament Annexe, New Delhi. Over and above, the members of the Working Committee, the Presidents of State units, the Presidents of Frontal organisations, party observers in various states, members of Parliament and leaders of party Legislative parties in the states attended the session. The review of the organisational progress was made and steps to strengthen the organisation were also discussed.

National Relief Committee

In view of the cyclone and flood in Orissa and the consequent sufferings of the people there, NCP constituted a National Relief Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Five truck-loads clothes, blankets and some house hold utensils were sent to Orissa and distributed among the affected people. party President Shri Sharad Pawar also visited the flood affected areas. All these made the party dearer not only to the common man but also to the intellectuals, professionals, youths and the weaker sections of the society.

Office bearers of the party June 6, 1999

  • Shri Sharad Pawar - President
  • Shri P. A. Sangma - General Secretary
  • Shri Tariq Anwar - General Secretary
  • Shri Devendra Nath Dwivedi - General Secretary
  • Shri Datta Meghe - Treasurer

Thereafter, Shri S. R. Kohli, a very senior political and social worker and journalist, who was Political Advisor to Late H.N. Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of UP and a very important figure of Congress, was appointed the honorary Permanent Secretary.

The Indian Congress (Socialist) at their Plenary Session held on 6th June 1999 at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi under the Presidentship of Shri Sarat Chandra Sinha, former Chief Minister of Assam, unanimously adopted a resolution to amalgamate that party with the Nationalist Congress Party upon which Shri Sharad Pawar and Shri Tariq Anwar attended their session land welcomed them into the Nationalist Congress Party.

June 10, 1999 Foundation Day

The official launching of the party was declared at the foundation convention of the party held at Mumbai on 10th June 1999 in the presence of tens of thousands of party workers at Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai and announced at the public meeting where more than 5 lacs of people assembled at Shivaji Park, Mumbai.

Amalgamation

The working committee of the party in a resolution passed at its meeting held on 26th June 1999 in New Delhi, authorised the President Shri Sharad Pawar to take all necessary measures and to complete all formalities of amalgamation of Indian Congress (Socialist) with Nationalist Congress Party.

Registration of the Party

The Nationalist Congress Party became a registered political party when the Election Commission of India accorded registration to the party as a political party on 5th June 1999 under section 29A of the Representation of Peoples' Act.

Assembly Elections

Our Party contested the Assembly Elections of the following states as detailed hereunder:

  • Bihar - 50 candidates
  • Haryana - 20 candidates
  • Orissa - 10 candidates
  • Manipur - 10 candidates

Out of these, five from Manipur and one from Haryana got elected to the Assembly.

Membership Drive

In order to intensify the membership drive, Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, General Secretary was given charge of membership campaign and given charge of organsational functions of the party.

NCP Member in Rajya Sabha

Shri Praful Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and he became the first NCP member in Rajya Sabha.

Frontal Organisations

  • Nationalist Youth Congress has been formed with Shri Jitendra Awhad as its President.
  • Nationalist Mahila Congress has been formed with Smt. Veena Nayyar as its President.
  • Nationalist Student Congress has been formed with Shri Rajeev Kumar Jha as its President.
  • Nationalist Seva Dal has been formed with Shri Shamim Qureshi, Ex MLA as its Chairman.
  • National Minority Department has been formed with Shri Salamat Ullah as its Chairman.
  • National Entrepreneur Cell has been formed with Shri Ramesh Gupta as its Convenor.
  • National Kisan Cell has been formed with Chaudhary Ved Pal as its Chairman.
  • Nationalist NRI Overseas Cell has been formed under the Presidenship of Shri Hardip Singh.
  • Nationalist Legal Cell has been fprmed with a Senior Advocate in Supreme Court Shri Amrendra Sharan, as its Chairman.
  • Membership Campaign Committee has been formed under the Convenorship of Shri Ramesh Aggrawal.

Foundation Day Celebration

The foundation day of the Party was celebrated all over the country on 10th June 2000. The day was celebrated in Delhi by holding convention at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, where more than 12,000 party workers participated from different states.

Condolence Resolution

Prof. D. P. Tripathi, Secretary NCP, moved a condolence resolution in connection with the sudden expiry of NCP President's eldest brother Dr. Dinkarrao Govindrao Pawar, popularly known a Appasaheb, who dedicated his life for upliftment of farmers and land less labourers of Baramati village through the introduction of scientific agricultural and irrigation technology, expired on 16th April 2000 following the cardiac arrest.

Convention

Party President Shri Sharad Pawar inaugurated the Convention. Shri P. A. Sangma, Shri Tariq Anwar, General Secretary, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Praful Patel, Treasurer, Shri Jitendra Awhad, President NYC, Salamat Ullah, Chairman, Minority Cell and other leaders addressed the Convention.

A resolution moved by Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, General Secretary, on the anti-poor policies of the BJP Government and calling for a nationwide agitation against those anti-poor and anti-farmer policies as well as the mounting atrocities on minorities and efforts of the government to open up the gates of administration to communal fascist forces like RSS was unanimously passed by the Convention.

National Integration Day

In view of the mounting atrocities on minorities and the developing hate culture between different communities, August 9 this year was observed by the party as National Integration Day.

Shiv Sena's attack on Party Headquarters

Provoked by the issue of arrest warrant to Bal Thakre, the Sivasena Chief by the government of Maharashtra where the NCP leader Shri Chhagan Bhujbal is the Home Minister, some Sivasainiks attacked the Party Headquarters at No. 10 Dr.. Bishambhar Das Marg, New Delhi at night on 16th July 2000 by 11.00 pm by pelting stones at the office and setting the building fence to fire causing some damage to the office. Thereupon a letter recording strong protest against the attack by Sivasainiks on our party Headquarters was addressed to Shri Advani, the Home Minister of India by our President Shri Sharad Pawar.A protest rally was also taken out to the office of the Home Minister in Delhi, under the leadership of Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, General Secretary. Thereafter, a memorandum addressed to the Home Minister seeking immediate and stern action against the culprits was submitted to Shri Advani in person by Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master. Protest meetings were held in different states also in protest to their attack.

Birth Anniversary Celebration of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated by the Party units throughout the country on 14th April 2000. Floral tributes to photos of Dr. Ambedkar at public places and holding of public meeting in his honour were some of the items of the celebration.

Appointment of Shri Sharad Pawar as VC of National Disaster Management Committee

The Nationalist Congress Party President Shri Sharad Pawar was appointed as Vice Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee, by the NDA government.

All Party Meeting called by Prime Minister

Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, General Secretary had represented our party at the 'All party meeting' called by the Prime Minister of India on 14th July 2000 to discuss the situation in Sierra Leone, where a large number of our soldiers serving under the U.N. Peace Keeping Force there were being held captives for quite some time.

Allotment of building for Central Office

The building No.10 Dr. Bishambhar Das Marg, New Delhi where our party headquarters is housed from the very inception of the party was allotted to the Party for the use of Party office by the government and the Party headquarters continues to function from this building.

The Central Election Authority

The Central Election Organisational Elections Authority of the party was appointed by the Working Committee with Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master as Chairman and Smt. Nivedita Sambhajirao Mane, MP and Advocate Shri Amrendra Saran as members.

The Chairman of the Central Election Authority is the Ex-Officio Returning Officer for the election of the President and the members of the Working Committee.

The central Election Authority appointed State Election Authorities to supervise and oversee the enrolment of members and for conducting the party election in a free and fair manner. The Central Election Authority appointed State Returning Officers and they in turn appointed District Returning Officers and subordinate Returning Officers to conduct the elections.

The Party elections were conducted in a free and fair manner. No serious disputes have been put up to the State election Authority regarding the elections.

The schedule of the Party elections up to the election of State Committees and the Presidents of State Committees as well as for the post of Party President and the Working Committee members: Party Elections at all levels have been completed including the election for the post of President of the Party and Shri Sharad Pawar has been unanimously elected as President of the Party. The members of the Working Committee will be elected by the National Committee members at Nagpur on 2nd October 2000.

Membership

The Party has membership of primary members and Active members.

Interaction with the Election Commission

The Party is having regular interactions with Election Commission on all matters relating to the Election Commission. The Party had been represented in the 'All Party Meetings' held by the Election Commission by Shri Tariq Anwar and Shri T.P. Peethambaran Master, General Secretaries..