Sharad Pawar quits as NCP chief, party gets him to rethink

Sharad Pawar’s decision to step down as the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) president has sent shockwaves through national and Maharashtra politics, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The announcement, made by Pawar at an event in Mumbai, took his party’s leaders and workers by surprise, with many visibly upset and requesting the 82-year-old to reconsider his decision. Following this, Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s nephew, stated that the veteran politician would take two to three days to reconsider his decision. This move is expected to have significant political implications in the state of Maharashtra and at the national level.

Sharad Pawar, after leading the Nationalist Congress Party for 24 years, announced his resignation as the party’s president and stated that he would not contest any further elections. He made the announcement at the launch of the second edition of his autobiography ‘Lok Maze Sangati’ and said that he felt the need to take a step back after his long political career that started on May 1, 1960, and lasted until May 1, 2023.

Developments in the matter: 

Sharad Pawar, in his announcement, stated that he plans to focus on various fields including education, agriculture, cooperation, sports, and culture, among others, and also address issues related to youth, students, workers, Dalits, tribals, and other vulnerable sections of society.

After Sharad Pawar’s announcement, a committee of party leaders held a meeting at his residence. Following the meeting, Sharad Pawar’s nephew, Ajit Pawar, stated that the party patriarch would take two to three days to reconsider his decision.

The NCP president’s declaration occurred within two weeks of his daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule’s hint about two political “explosions” taking place within 15 days, one in Delhi and the other in Maharashtra.

When Pawar made his decision, NCP president Jayant Patil and party leader Jitendra Awhad became emotional, but party MP Praful Patel pleaded with him to reverse his decision.

Some district unit officials in Maharashtra announced their resignation from their positions, urging Pawar to reconsider his decision. Nonetheless, Ajit Pawar appealed to NCP officials to refrain from stepping down from their roles.

A distressed NCP worker in Pune took it to the extreme by writing a letter to Sharad Pawar using his own blood and pleading with him to revoke his decision.

Ajit Pawar urged the party workers and leaders not to let their emotions get the best of them regarding the decision and reminded them that Pawar Saheb had recently mentioned the importance of changing leadership.

Ajit Pawar stated that the individuals recommended by Sharad Pawar to select the upcoming party President are not outsiders, but rather belong to the NCP family itself.

Sources have indicated that Supriya Sule, an NCP leader and Sharad Pawar’s daughter, is considered a strong candidate for the party’s highest position. However, she is likely to face stiff competition from her brother Ajit Pawar and the senior NCP leader Praful Patel.

The resolution by one of the most prominent leaders of the Opposition in the nation, who had the potential to unite their parties against the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections, has arrived at a time of high conjecture regarding Ajit Pawar’s forthcoming political step.