New Delhi: Three days after he resigned as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, saying he had had enough, Sharad Pawar on Friday took back his decision after much drama and heartburn among party workers.
Earlier Friday, a committee — constituted to find a successor to Pawar — unanimously rejected his sudden resignation of 2 May.
While revealing his plans to retire from the party post, Pawar had told an event Tuesday that he needed to step back after working non-stop for 63 years. He would, however, continue to work for the people, Pawar had added.
“I can’t disrespect your sentiments,” Pawar told his supporters on Friday evening, barely hours after the party panel passed a resolution rejecting his decision.
He added, “Due to your love, I am respecting the demand that was made to me to withdraw my resignation and (respecting) the resolution that was passed by senior NCP leaders. I withdraw my decision to step down as the national president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).”
“I am overwhelmed with the love, trust, and faith showered on me. Considering the appeals made by all of you and honouring the decision of the committee constituted by the party, I am withdrawing my decision to retire,” he said.
But Pawar also reiterated that his future focus will be to make organisational changes in the party. “Even though I am continuing in the post of NCP chief, I am of the clear opinion that there has to be a succession plan for any post or responsibility in the organisation.”
Many national leaders, he said, had called and asked him to continue in the party. “It is very important to unite all the political parties. From Rahul Gandhi to CPI (M)’s Sitaram Yechury called and asked me to continue.”
He also said that new leaders should be given responsibility. Those who work at the district level should be given opportunities at the state level and those working for years at the state level should be given opportunities in the national level.
Speaking to ThePrint, political analyst Prakash Akolkar said, “Pawar has established that only he is controlling the party, rather bigger than the party president ship.”
Akolkar also said that senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar will now be in a fix as he cannot take the decision of leaving the party as was speculated earlier.
“If at all Ajit Pawar decides to leave the party or join hands with others, MLAs will think twice. And this is the second time in three years, Pawar has proved it. Even in 2019, during the early morning oath, Pawar within few hours could bring back the MLAs that had joined hands with Ajit Pawar and left. So this is once again Pawar proving that he is the boss,” Akolkar added.
After the resolution was submitted to him by the 18-member committee – which included his daughter Supriya Sule, nephew Ajit Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel – Pawar had said he would need some time to rethink his decision.
Patel told the media in the morning that everyone felt the 82-year-old should not leave his post. “NCP leaders across the country are stressed, aggrieved and angry. We cannot overlook that… He should respect the crores of people across the country and take his decision back,” Patel said.
Pawar announced his decision Tuesday during the launch of his revised autobiography “Lok Majhe Sangati”. He then constituted a committee to choose his successor.
The NCP founder’s resolve caused much heartburn among leaders and workers alike, and prompted dramatic scenes at the event.
On Thursday, Pawar softened somewhat and met protesting party workers outside the Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai. He assured them the their sentiments would not be ignored.