NCP Readies For 2024 Polls, Supriya Sule, Praful Patel Declared New Working Presidents By Sharad Pawar

Supriya Sule and Praful Patel have been declared as the new working presidents of the NCP by Sharad Pawar at the 25th anniversary of the party. 

At the 25th anniversary of the party, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar announced Supriya Sule and Praful Patel working presidents of the party. The announcement was made in presence of Ajit Pawar, a key player in NCP. This comes after Pawar, last month, offered to resign from the presidency of the party which was followed by fervent remonstrations from the party members as well as other political leaders. An NCP panel formed to deliberate on Pawar's offer had on May 5 rejected his resignation and urged him to continue as the party president. NCP was founded by Pawar and PA Sangma in 1999.

Speaking at the event of the party's anniversary, Pawar said, "All opposition parties have to come together, I am sure the people of this country will help us. On 23rd we all are meet in Bihar, discuss and come up with a programme and will travel across the country and present it to the people."

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, "They have been made the working Presidents so that the election work and Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha work can be divided. They have been allotted more responsibilities on their shoulders because elections are near. This is for handling the 2024 Lok Sabha election work."

Death Threat To Pawar

Sharad Pawar said on Friday that if anyone thinks that one’s voice can be silenced by issuing threats, that person is under a “misconception”. He was speaking to reporters over the death threat sent to him on social media. Pawar said he has complete faith in Maharashtra police.

“Every citizen of the country has the freedom to express their opinion on any subject. However, if someone thinks that by issuing threats, one’s voice can be silenced, then it is his misconception,” said the veteran leader.

According to NCP, 82-year-old Pawar received a message on social media that read “he will meet the same fate as (Narendra) Dabholkar soon”. Narendra Dabholkar, who fought against superstitious beliefs, was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants during his morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013.

“I’ve full faith in the capability of the police who are entrusted to look after law and order of the state and that is why I am not worried about it,” said Pawar. He added that those who have the reins of the state cannot avoid responsibility.