Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he will step down as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief. Pawar, at the launch event of the revised version of his autobiography in Mumbai, said that he has resigned from NCP's post of national president. Pawar founded the political party in 1999 and had remained at the top post since then.
“I have three years left of Rajya Sabha membership in Parliament, during which I will focus on issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not taking any responsibility. 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 the president of the Nationalist Congress Party,” Pawar said.
Sharad Pawar told his emotional workers opposing his resignation, "I am with you, but not as NCP chief".
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said the senior Pawar will abide by the decision of the party’s committee on his resignation.
Pawar also announced that a four-member committee will now decide who the next president of the party will be.
After the announcement, NCP's Praful Patel said that Sharad Pawar did not take anyone into confidence before announcing his resignation.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Jayant Patil broke down after party chief Sharad Pawar announced his decision to step down as party president.
The move comes at a time when Pawar is seen as a pole to tie opposition parties of different hues, interests and ideologies, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.