The Nationalist Congress Party on Friday passed a resolution requesting Sharad Pawar to continue as the party president, rejecting his resignation. The decision was taken after the party’s core committee meeting to select its next chief, revealed senior NCP leader Praful Patel.
Sharad Pawar, on May 2, announced his decision to step down from the leadership of the National Congress Party, which he had founded and led since 1999, on Tuesday. However, he clarified that he was not retiring from public life.
Patel added that Pawar had conveyed his interest in resigning from his post as president of the party; however, the panel unanimously rejected his resignation and requested that he continue serving in his current capacity. Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Patel were the recipients of a multitude of heartfelt messages from the nation’s most powerful people. After Sharad Pawar made the announcement that he would step down as chairman of the Nationalist Communist Party (NCP), party sources claim that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called Supriya Sule on the phone to inquire about the most recent developments in the NCP.
The committee members included Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Chaggan Bujbal.
Patel added that they had seen the sentiments of the NCP party workers across districts, and everyone has said that they do not want Pawar to step down from the position of the Party President. He said that Pawar did not confide in the committee before announcing his decision to step down, leading to the cadre being sad, hurt and upset.
Ajit Pawar supported Patel’s decision stating that the next party chief would work under Sharad Pawar. The statement was met with emotional protests from workers and party leaders who urged Pawar to reconsider his decision.
According to PTI, party leaders have reportedly suggested that the leadership of the NCP is likely to remain within the Pawar family, as appointing someone from the outside may lead to rifts and power scuffles within the party.
While addressing rumours that Priya Sule might become the national president of NCP and Ajit Pawar’s chief of the Maharashtra unit, Patel clarified that there is no vacant post in the party. He added that Sharad Pawar is the identity and soul of NCP.
On Wednesday, the national vice president of the NCP, Praful Patel, indicated that despite the numerous requests from party officials and followers, Sharad Pawar had not changed his mind about stepping down as the head of the party. Pawar has been the leader of the NCP for the past few years. Patel further mentioned that the NCP is continuing their efforts to convince Pawar to change his mind about the matter.
All that remains now is for the party supremo to issue his statement.
Reported by Matrika Shukla.
