Mumbai (Maharashtra): After much deliberation, Sharad Pawar, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has withdrawn his resignation following pressure from party leaders and supporters. The decision to withdraw the resignation was made after the party's core committee unanimously adopted a resolution urging Pawar to continue at the helm.
The high-power core committee set up Pawar to choose his successor in the meeting on Friday unanimous rejected his resignation. NCP leader Praful Patel stated that they would meet Pawar with this resolution and request him to reconsider his decision to quit, as the NCP and the country needed a leader like Pawar at this hour. Patel further added that Pawar's decision to quit was taken without informing other party members.
The committee, which was set up by Pawar to choose his successor, includes Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, former Union leader Praful Patel, and Bhujbal. The meeting, which was held at the party's south Mumbai, was attended by the core committee members amid party workers congregating in large numbers against Pawar's decision to quit from the party post. The emotionally charged up party workers were insisting that Pawar should continue at the mantle and lead the party.
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Pawar founded and led the NCP after leaving the Congress to chart his own political course in 1999. His announcement to quit as president of the party during his autobiography launch event on Tuesday caught leaders and workers of the 24-year-old party off-guard. Political party leaders across the country had also requested him to continue in his post.
Hours after the NCP core committee rejected his resignation, Pawar sought time to consider the core committee's resolution. This came after Ajit Pawar's statement on Tuesday that Pawar would take two to three days to rethink his decision to quit the post. The Rajya Sabha MP had clarified that he was only stepping down as NCP chief but not retiring from public life.
Pawar's announcement had come amid speculation that his nephew Ajit Pawar and some of the NCP legislators may defect to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which the former deputy CM vehemently refuted and claimed that he would stick with the NCP till death parts him. With Pawar at the helm, the NCP is expected to continue to play an important role in Maharashtra politics, especially in the upcoming assembly elections.
