New Delhi: A Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) committee on Friday unanimously rejected its president Sharad Pawar’s resignation, and requested him to continue as its chief.
Party vice-president Praful Patel told the media that every member of the committee had decided that Pawar should continue in active politics because he was a “respected leader whom everybody listened to”.
Three days ago, the veteran politician made a surprise decision to step down as party head and formed this 18-member committee to choose his successor.
A key member of the country’s Opposition, the 82-year-old had formed the NCP in 1999 after he broke from the Congress on the issue of Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origins. He has fronted the party ever since.
But on 2 May, Pawar suddenly announced his decision to quit at the launch of his updated Marathi autobiography “Lok Majhe Sangati” — prompting protests by party workers and appeals by NCP leaders to revoke the decision.
Pawar said his political journey began on 1 May, 1960, and had continued without a break for the past 63 years. “I have three years of Rajya Sabha membership left, during which I will focus on the issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not accepting any responsibility (of party post)… It is necessary to take a step back,” he said.
The committee Pawar set up to choose a leader met on Friday at the party office in South Mumbai. The members included Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, his nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and other senior leaders.
The committee’s resolution rejecting the resignation came after senior leaders insisted that Pawar remain the national president till the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Possible successors had also taken themselves out of the race — NCP leader and former Union minister Praful Patel said Wednesday he had no desire to become the party chief.
The same line was echoed on Thursday by Maharashtra party chief Jayant Patil. “I work in Maharashtra. I have no contacts in other states or in Delhi, I am of the opinion that a leader who is a Member of Parliament and has experience of national politics should take this responsibility,” he said.
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