[ad_1]
By Ritvick Arun Bhalekar: In a move that came as a surprise to many, veteran politician Sharad Pawar on Tuesday resigned as president of the Nationalist Congress Party, the political outfit he floated more than two decades ago.
“I have decided to step down as the president of the NCP,” Pawar said at the launch of the second edition of his autobiography Lok Maze Sangati. His announcement was greeted by loud exclamations from the gathering.
A stalwart of Maharashtra politics, 82-year-old Pawar stated that he would no longer contest elections, as after a decades-long career, one must think about stopping somewhere.
“I have three years’ tenure remaining in Rajya Sabha. I will not contest elections henceforth. In these three years, I will concentrate more on issues concerning the state and the country. I will not take any additional responsibilities… One must not be greedy,” he said.
Pawar, however, made it clear that he was not taking a backseat from politics. “My colleagues, even though I am stepping down from the post of president, I am not retiring from public life,” he said.
He also announced a panel of senior party leaders would draw a future course of action. The committee will include,
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, he said.
Cries of “take back your decision” rang through the hall as NCP leaders objected to Pawar’s decision to step down as party chief. After he wrapped up his speech, loyalists rushed on to the stage and entreated him with folded hands to rethink his resignation.
Pawar’s decision comes against the backdrop of speculation over his nephew and former Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s next move, with a few claiming that he might join hands with the BJP. Ajit Pawar, however, has reiterated that he would stay in the NCP till his last moment. Incidentally, Ajit Pawar was sharing the dais with Sharad Pawar when the latter made his bombshell announcement.
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar floated the NCP in 1999 after being expelled from the Congress for objecting to Italian-born Sonia Gandhi staking her claim to the post of Prime Minister.
In his 55-year-long political career, Pawar has weathered many storms and occupied top government posts, serving as MP, MLA, and Union minister. In fact, he was the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra, elected in 1978 when he was just 38.
[ad_2]
