राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षाचे राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष आदरणीय खा. शरद पवार साहेब यांनी यशवंतराव चव्हाण सेंटर, मुंबई येथे झालेल्या पत्रकार परिषदेत आपण अध्यक्षपदाचा राजीनामा मागे घेत असल्याची व पुनश्च अध्यक्षपदाची जबाबादारी स्वीकारत असल्याचे जाहीर केले.
Staff Reporter
Days after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar announced his resignation from the top post of the party, the veteran Maratha leader withdrew his decision today, saying that he cannot disrespect the emotions of the people.
This came hours after the 18-member committee appointed to decide the future of NCP unanimously rejected the resignation of Pawar. “The committee has passed a resolution unanimously. It says NCP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar’s resignation has been unanimously rejected. It recommends that Sharad Pawar should remain at the post as party president,” senior party leader and committee convener Praful Patel said.
Pawar’s announcement came at a press conference hours after the NCP committee set up to find his successor unanimously rejected his decision to step down and urged him to rethink.
Pawar had announced his resignation on May 2, plunging the party into turmoil and triggered anxiety among cadres.
Pawar, while announcing his final decision today, said his daughter Supriya Sule did not agree to become NCP working president when the discussion was held today.
Sule was the favourite to lead the party in the event of her father stepping back.
“I could not disrespect the sentiments of colleagues and workers who insisted that I withdraw my decision. I am overwhelmed by the love and faith reposed in me. Considering the appeals by you all, and deferring to the decision of the committee constituted by the party, I am withdrawing my decision to retire,” Pawar said.
He said the NCP needed a succession plan and he would now focus on revamping the party organization, assigning new roles to new leaders and nurturing fresh blood.
“I will also work vigorously for the growth of the organisation and take our ideology and goals of the party to the people,” Pawar said.
Sharad Pawar on Friday also swatted away speculation that his nephew Ajit Pawar was unhappy with him or planning to leave the party after he did not attend the press conference on Friday.
“It’s not necessary for all the leaders to be present in the press conference,” Sharad Pawar said, adding that all the NCP leaders were present in the succession committee meeting earlier in the day when they unanimously decided that he should continue as the party chief.
Sharad Pawar also denied that there was any truth to the rumours that any NCP leaders wanted to defect to other parties. “If anyone wants to go, no one can stop anyone. However, there’s no truth that people in our party want to go out,” he said.
He said that he had spoken to his leaders and told them that new leaders should be given responsibility and opportunity at different levels of the party. He also revealed that his daughter Supriya Sule, a member of parliament, had refused to become the working president of the NCP when some leaders suggested it during the discussion.
The committee consisting of senior NCP leaders including Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule and nephew Ajit Pawar, resolved that the country needed Pawar’s leadership.
NCP workers burst into celebrations as soon as Pawar said he was staying on.
The move by Pawar, 82, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, has instantly united NCP amid speculation of a possible split, with Ajit Pawar learnt to be in touch with the BJP though he has denied any such move.
Maha Vikas Aghadi leader — Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) today said nothing in politics happens by accident.
Raut posted a tweet quoting former US president Franklin D Roosevelt’s “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens you can bet it was planned that way.”
The Uddhav Sena mouthpiece, which Raut edits, commenting on the developments, said, “The ultimate motive of Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar is to become the chief minister and Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule has a good presence in Delhi.”