Live — He Needs A Few Hours: Praful Patel After Conveing Core Panel's Decision To Sharad Pawar
NCP meeting to elect new party chief: Follow live updates from the crucial meeting of the NCP to elect the next party president after Sharad Pawar.
Background
A crucial meeting of the NCP will be held today at 11 am to decide the next party president after Sharad Pawar quit the post in a surprise move this week. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Taapsee said the committee set up to choose Sharad Pawar's successor would meet at YB Chavan Hall at 11 am to deliberate on the issue. Party sources told ABP News that a proposal might be floated to re-elect Sharad Pawar as president. There has been hectic preparation to bring this proposal to consensus.
NCP leaders, on condition of anonymity, told PTI that Baramati Lok Sabha MP and Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is likely to be the party's national chief while Ajit Pawar will take charge of the Maharashtra unit. The leaders have stressed that asserted Sule, a three-term Lok Sabha MP, had established herself as an effective parliamentarian and has good relations with leaders of parties across the political spectrum.
On the other hand, Ajit Pawar has good hold over the state unit and is widely acknowledged as an able administrator, PTI reported.
On Thursday, Sharad Pawar met protesting party workers who have demanded that he reconsider his decision. Pawar said his decision to step down from the post was taken for the future of the party and to create a new leadership.
"I respect your sentiments. I should have discussed my plans with all of you and taken you into confidence. But I know you wouldn't have allowed me to take the decision (of stepping down as party chief)," the former Union minister told his supporters.
On Tuesday, Pawar said he was stepping down as the chief of NCP, the political outfit he founded and helmed since 1999.
"I have three years of Rajya Sabha membership left, during which I will focus on the issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not accepting any responsibility (of party post). After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back. Hence, I have decided to step down as president of the Nationalist Congress Party," Pawar said.
The development came amid rumours about Ajit Pawar drifting towards the BJP. Speculation of Ajit Pawar jumping ship intensified when he skipped a meeting of NCP's Mumbai unit last month.
He Needs A Few Hours: Praful Patel After Conveing Core Panel's Decision To Sharad Pawar
Praful Patel and other leaders met Sharad Pawar at his residence and conveyed to him the party core committee's decision. The panel has rejected Pawar's resignation as party president and has urged him to take charge again.
"Pawar is our leader he will decide. We've given him a few hours. He is such a big leader, he should be given time, after that he will tell you the decision he will take. We told Sharad Pawar what we had to say, he needs a few hours," he added.
NCP Leader Ajit Pawar Arrives At Party Chief Sharad Pawar's Residence
NCP leader Ajit Pawar arrives at the residence of party chief Sharad Pawar.
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