MUMBAI: Ending all speculation over his future course of action, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday announced that he will continue as the party president and focus on building a new leadership in the party.
Mr Pawar said he changed his decision to quit from the party post to respect the feelings of party workers, office-bearers and colleagues who have been pleading with him to take back his resignation.
“I announced my decision to retire from the post of Nationalist Congress Party president. After 63 years of long service in public life, it was my own decision to step down. But my decision evoked strong sentiments amongst the people. Party workers, office-bearers and my colleagues were disheartened to hear my decision. All unanimously appealed to me to reconsider my decision. At the same time, the leaders from various political parties, my colleagues and well-wishers from all over the country and especially from Maharashtra, persuaded me to change my decision,” the NCP chief said.
Hinting at major changes in the party, Mr Pawar added: “Even though I am continuing in the post of president, I am of the clear opinion that there has to be a succession plan for any post or responsibility in the organisation. In future, I will focus on making organisational changes in the party, assigning new responsibilities, creating new leadership. I will also work vigorously for the growth of the organisation and take our ideology and goals of the party to the people.”
On the question of Ajit Pawar’s absence at the press conference, the NCP chief said everyone was not needed at the press conference.
Earlier in the day, a committee of NCP leaders rejected Mr Pawar’s resignation from the party post. The committee requested him to remain on the party president’s post at least till the 2024 general election.
The committee, which was set up by Mr Pawar himself to find his successor, met at the NCP headquarters in Mumbai at 11 am. The committee included Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, party vice president Praful Patel, state president Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal and leaders from Maharashtra as well as other states.
At the meeting, Mr Patel moved a resolution to reject the resignation of Sharad Pawar and requested him to take back his decision. The resolution was passed unanimously.
“Pawar Saheb took the decision without informing us. Considering all the demands of the party workers and leaders, we took a meeting today and the committee has passed a proposal unanimously. The committee unanimously rejects the resignation and we request Mr Pawar to continue as party president,” Mr Patel said after the meeting.
Soon after Mr Patel’s announcement, NCP office-bearers and workers protesting outside the party office started fireworks and celebrations. A group of NCP leaders including Mr Patel, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal then met the NCP chief at his Mumbai residence “Silver Oak” and informed him about the committee’s decision.
“We have been meeting Sharad Pawar for the last few days and have been telling him to take his resignation back. We cannot neglect the feelings of NCP workers from across the country. We told Sharad Pawar that he is a pillar of the party. He is a respected leader of not just the state, but the country,” Mr Patel said.
Jayant Patil also confirmed that they requested Sharad Pawar not resign “at the moment”. “He should stay at least till the Parliament elections. He might have taken the decision to step down from the party president’s post in order to give a chance to new faces. But we have requested him to stay on his post,” he said.
Mr Pawar had announced his decision to step down from the party president’s post during the lauch of the second edition of his autobiography Lok Majhe Sangati: Political Autobiography. The development came amid speculation about Ajit Pawar along with several NCP legislators drifting towards the BJP.
