India, May 26 -- At a time when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is reeling from internal differences, the party leadership recently asked a prominent leader from Sangli to resign from the Maharashtra legislative council to accommodate another candidate, according to party insiders.

However, Idris Naikwadi, 61, refused to step down, saying he had been appointed by the late NCP president Ajit Pawar and intended to complete his six-year term, insiders said. Naikwadi, however, denied the claims, saying that no one had approached him seeking his resignation.

Naikwadi was appointed to the legislative council from the governor's nominated quota in October 2024. He was the only Muslim member of the legislative council (MLC) until Zeeshan S...