Mumbai, Jul 12 (PTI) Amid reports in a section of media that NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil has resigned from the post, the party on Saturday denied it saying it was nothing but mischief.

Patil has been the state president of the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) since 2018. After the party split in July 2023 following the rebellion by Ajit Pawar and other MLAs, Patil continued to occupy the same post in the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the party - NCP (SP).

"Jayant Patil is the state president of (NCP-SP). The news of his resignation being circulated is nothing but mischief. The party operates according to rules and discipline," the party's chief national spokesperson Jitendra Awhad said in a statement.

Reports are being published in a section of media, including news channels, that Patil had stepped down from his post and party leader and MLC Shashikant Shinde is set to succeed him.

On June 10, on the NCP's 26th foundation day, Patil had hinted at stepping down from the post in the presence of party chief Sharad Pawar.

It is important for the party to give a chance to new faces, Patil had said, triggering an emotional reaction from workers who urged him to continue.

"Pawar Saheb gave me a lot of opportunities. I was entrusted with the responsibility for seven years. However, it is important for the party to give a chance to new faces now," he had said.

Patil, a staunch loyalist of Pawar, remained loyal to him since the formation of the NCP. He sided with the Pawar senior after Ajit Pawar rebelled in 2023.

Patil has been representing the Islampur constituency (Sangli district) in the Maharashtra legislative assembly for more than three decades. He had served as the cabinet minister of the Water Resources Department in Uddhav Thackeray's ministry. Earlier, he served as the Rural Development Minister (2009-2014), the Finance Minister (1999- 2008) and the Home Minister (2008- 2009).

In 2018, he was unanimously elected as the state president of undivided NCP replacing Sunil Tatkare. PTI MR NP

Leadership continuity: party denies reports of state chief's resignation, asserting organizational rules preserve his position. The party denies reports of Jayant Patil's resignation, calling the reports mischief and asserting he remains state president under party rules and discipline, while rebutting speculation about a named successor. Patil's prior signal about making space for new faces and his long service and loyalty to the Pawar-led faction provide context for the denial and the surrounding succession speculation.