Decided To Quit As NCP Chief For Party's Future: Sharad Pawar Tells Workers

Sharad Pawar, who decided to resign as the NCP president on Tuesday, said that he took the decision to ensure a better future for the party and to create a new leadership.

Sharad Pawar on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers amid protests over his announcement to resign as party chief. He said that he took the decision to ensure the party has a better future and to create a new leadership.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, who is known as the 'Chanakya' of Indian politics, sent the country's political corridors into a tizzy on Tuesday when he announced his resignation from the party president's post. Immediately after his announcement, NCP workers across Maharashtra launched protests urging him to reconsider his decision.

Pawar, apparently, did not consult any party leader before taking the decision to quit as party chief. After getting the news, senior leaders rushed to Mumbai to convince him to take back his post. Sharad Pawar on Thursday said: "I took the decision to quit as NCP chief for party's future."

Speaking outside the Y B Chavan Centre, Pawar said he would take a final decision in two-three days and the sentiments of party workers will not be ignored. "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.

He said some party colleagues from outside Maharashtra will meet him on Friday to discuss the issue.

Pawar, apparently, did not consult any party leader before taking the decision to quit as party chief. After getting the news, senior leaders rushed to Mumbai to convince him to take back his post.

With Patel out of the race for the NCP president's post, Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, and senior leader Jayant Patil are likely to battle it out among themselves. Former Maharashtra deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal may also throw is hat into the ring to compete against them.

Party leader and Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said that Sharad Pawar took the decision of stepping down as party president due to his age and he will not take back his resignation. He said, "Pawar Saheb himself had said about the necessity of change in guard a few days back. We should see his decision in the light of his age and health also. Everyone has to take a decision according to time, Pawar Saheb has taken a decision and he won't take it back." 

However, later in the day, Ajit Pawar said: "We told him [Sharad Pawar] that workers are quite upset. We also told him that party workers want him to remain the party president along with having a working president. He said he will rethink his decision and requires 2-3 days."