Pichad replaces Patil as new Maharashtra NCP chief

Mumbai: Senior leader and former minister Madhukar Pichad was on Sunday appointed as the new president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, while former corporator Narendra Verma was made party's Mumbai unit chief.

Pichad, an MLA from Akole assembly constituency in Ahmednagar district, replaces R R Patil who has taken over as Home Minister in the Ashok Chavan-led government in the state, party leaders said.

The appointments were made at a meeting of senior party leaders comprising Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Ajit Pawar, R R Patil, senior ministers and office bearers at the party office in central Mumbai, party spokesman Madan Bafna said.