Mumbai:What can be considered to be one of the biggest political decisions of recent times, NCP chief and one of the pillars of Maharashtra politics Sharad Pawar has announced his decision to step down as the party chief. The veteran politician instead suggested Pawar announced that a committee of senior NCP leaders will take the future decisions of the party.
Speaking on the release of his revised version of Pawar's Marathi autobiography 'Lok Majhe Saangaati', the iron man of Maharashtra politics said, “I have three years left in my tenure as a Rajya Sabha member. I have made the decision to no longer participate in elections."
"During this time, my focus will be directed towards issues concerning both my state and country. Additional responsibilities will not be taken on. As someone who began their political career on May 1, 1960, and celebrated May Day just yesterday, it is important to consider when it is time to stop and not let greed take hold."
"After such a lengthy career in politics, I will not cling to a position for the sake of it. While this decision may make some uncomfortable, I have also chosen to retire from my role as the NCP chief," the former Union Defence Minister said in Marathi while addressing the cadre during the launch of his revised Marathi autobiography 'Lok Majhe Saangaati', which includes developments post-2015.
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His announcement was met with protests by NCP workers and leaders who were attending the event and urged him to reconsider his decision. "I have decided to step down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party," Pawar said. The former Union Defence Minister also announced a panel of senior party leaders to chart a future course of action.
The party workers and leaders rejected Pawar's decision as unwarranted and demanded that the leader should withdraw his decision, leading to tense moments in the book launch event. They also threatened the leader that they will not leave the venue until Pawar rescinds his decision.
Panel members-Keeping the speculation alive about his successor to the party, the former NCP President announced a committee that will look after the party affairs in future. The committee includes Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, P C Chacko, Narhari Zirwal, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujabl, Dilip walse-Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Jitendra Awhad, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Jaydev Gaikwad and chiefs of party frontal cells.
Though speculations are rife that former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar might holds the reins of the party but there has not been any announcement from the party as of now. Meanwhile, it should be mentioned that Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule after his meeting with Ajit Pawar over his leaving NCP row had said that there will two ‘Big Explosions – one in Delhi and one here’. The retirement announcement of Sharad Pawar might be one explosion.
Pawar had published his autobiography 'On My Terms' in English as well. He was instrumental in stitching together an unlikely coalition of the NCP, Congress and then ideologically opposite Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The coalition was brought down by the BJP by installing Eknath Shinde as the Chief Minister and ending the tenure of Uddhav Thackeray as CM.
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