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By India Today Web Desk: Amid the ongoing humdrum surrounding who will replace Sharad Pawar as the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a panel constituted by the leader himself, will make the decision tomorrow (May 5). The committee members will meet at 11 am in NCP’s south Mumbai office to decide who will succeed Pawar for the top post, a senior NCP leader said.
The development comes days after Pawar’s shocking resignation that he had announced during the launch of the second edition of his autobiography Lok Maze Sangati on Tuesday.
Notably, the committee formed by Pawar, has daughter Supriya Sule, nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and others as its members, a PTI report said. Ever since he resigned, speculations have been rife about who will succeed him, with NCP leaders Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil considered as frontrunners among political circles.
Sharad Pawar, who founded and helmed the NCP since 1999, said he won’t be retiring from public life, despite his resignation as party president.
ALSO READ: Sharad Pawar planned his resignation, prepared speech in advance: Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana
Despite the panel meeting scheduled for tomorrow, some NCP workers are still making attempts to persuade Pawar to rethink his resignation again. Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said his uncle will need two to three days to “think over” his decision.
However, a day after Pawar decided to step down, NCP’s national vice president Praful Patel said he has not relented despite repeated requests from party leaders and supporters.
The panel set up by Pawar was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, but did not. “If the situation arises, the committee will decide on Pawar’s successor and the decision will be unanimous. He sought time to think over his decision after the party asked him to reconsider it, and till the final decision is arrived at, there is no question of deliberating on his successor,” a PTI report quoted Patel as saying.
Meanwhile, Pawar’s daughter Supriya was called up by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin about developments in the NCP after Sharad Pawar’s announcement to quit as its chief.
ALSO READ: What Sharad Pawar told NCP leaders on decision to step down as party chief
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