Sharad Pawar Quits As NCP Chief, Says Will 'Rethink' Move Amid Protests By Party Workers. All That Happened Today

Sharad Pawar dropped a bombshell on Tuesday when he announced his resignation as the NCP president. However, after being urged by party workers, he decided to take 2-3 days to reconsider the move.

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 at the launch of his autobiography, NCP workers across Maharashtra launched protests urging him to reconsider his decision.

The timing of the resignation is what started a political frenzy, worrying NCP's allies in Maharashtra — the Congress and the Shiv Sena. His resignation came at a time when the Shiv Sena is still reeling under the coup effected by Eknath Shinde last year and the NCP itself is dealing with uncertainty over the next move by former Deputy Chief Minister and Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar. There has been a growing buzz in political circles that the younger Pawar may quit NCP to join the BJP.

Here's all that happened since Sharad Pawar resigned:

• Immediately after Sharad Pawar's resignation, NCP worker's took to the streets urging him to return to his post. They seemed unrelenting as they sat outside the YD Chavan Centre. Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule tried to pacify the workers but in vain. An NCP worker reportedly even wrote a letter to the NCP founder in blood, requesting him to roll back 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. When party workers asked Supriya Sule to talk to Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar suggested her to not say anything.  "I am her elder brother and that is why I am suggesting this."

 

• Later in the day, when The Pawars addressed a press conference, Ajit Pawar was seen irritated. Videos of him snatching a microphone from an NCP worker who was raising slogans in favour of Sharad Pawar and admonishing another who was pleading with the party founder have gone viral now. Another clip of Ajit Pawar telling Supriya Sule: "Tu bolu nakko [Don't say anything," has also been widely shared. These statements are being seen by many as Ajit Pawar's attempt at asserting supremacy and staking a claim for the NCP president's post, trumping Supriya Sule, who, too, is a senior leader of the party .

 

• Ajit Pawar 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." 

 

• The BJP treaded cautiously and preferred not to put out any reaction. Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said: "Pawar sahib's decision is NCP's internal matter. It is his personal decision. He is a senior leader and has decided something. Brainstorming over several issues is going on within his party. So, it will not be right for us to react on this. We will keep an eye on the situation and react after a day or two."

 

• The Congress, too, was careful while reacting to the development. Congress leader Rashid Alvi speaks on Sharad Pawar's resignation. He says, "Sharad Pawar is a respected leader. This is an internal matter of his party, but he will continue to play an important role in Opposition."

 

• However, the Shiv Sena was vocal in its reaction. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said Sharad Pawar was simply fed up with dirty politics and decided to stay away. He hinted that Pawar may return to his post by comparing him with Balasaheb Thackeray. "Fed up by dirty Politics and allegations , Shivsena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray too had resigned as the   Shivsena Pramukh. History seems to have repeated itself... But owing to the love of Shivsainiks he had to withdraw his decision... Like Balasaheb, Pawar Saheb too is the soul of the State's politics [sic]," he tweeted.

 

• As the day progressed and the demand of the NCP workers intensified, Ajit Pawar told them: "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."