Sharad Pawar's resignation drama and withdrawal: 10 points

After much deliberation, Sharad Pawar, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has withdrawn his resignation following pressure from party leaders and supporters.

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, who announced his resignation three days ago, sprang a surprise and withdrew his resignation on Friday. The decision comes after NCP's committee passed a resolution rejecting Sharad Pawar's resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded.

Here are 10 points on Sharad Pawar:

• NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday resigned from his post.
• His announcement was met with protests by NCP workers and leaders, who were attending the event, and urged him to reconsider his decision.
• The party workers and leaders rejected Pawar's decision as unwarranted and demanded that the leader withdraw his decision leading to tense moments at the book launch event. They also threatened the leader that they will not leave the venue until Pawar rescinds his decision.
• The announcement triggered high drama and protest. Scores of party workers laid siege to the YB Chavan Auditorium, blocking the 82-year-old leader and his wife Pratibha Pawar from leaving till he withdrew his decision.
• The drama continued for almost two hours as Pawar and Pratibha sat and watched helplessly, without a sip of water or anything to eat, surrounded by emotional party leaders and workers from all over.
• Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar said that the NCP chief would take two to three days to rethink his decision to quit the post.
• On Friday, the NCP Core Committee rejected his resignation.
• Hours after the NCP Core Committee rejected Sharad Pawar's resignation from the post of party president, the veteran sought time to consider the Core Committee's resolution.
• On Friday evening, Pawar withdrew his decision to quit as the party chief
• He withdrew his decision following pressure from party workers and supporters. "I cannot disrespect their feelings. I am overwhelmed by the love, trust and faith showered on me. Considering the appeals made by all of you and honouring the decision of the committee constituted by the party, I am withdrawing my decision to retire, the veteran politician said.