Sharad Pawar takes back decision to quit as NCP chief

NEW DELHI,MAY 5 : Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who dropped a resignation bombshell on May 2, said he has reversed his decision to quit as party supremo. The announcement came hours after his resignation was rejected by a committee in the backdrop of protests from party workers in Maharashtra.

In a press conference, Sharad Pawar said, “After announcing my decision, there was unrest among workers and people. My advisors said I should reconsider this decision. My supporters, politicians from Maharashtra and across India requested me to take my decision back.”

“Considering all these requests. I have taken back the decision to leave the NCP president post,” Pawar said.

The veteran had said he needed time to think about continuing as chief of the party he founded in 1999. Then he himself set up a committee, including Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, to choose the next party chief.

But, the committee in a key meeting today rejected Pawar’s decision to step down.

 “The committee has unanimously passed a resolution. It unanimously rejects his decision to step down and urges him to continue as party president,” NCP leader Praful Patel said after the meeting.

The veteran leader’s decision to quit came against the backdrop of speculation over his nephew Ajit Pawar’s next move, with a few claiming that he might join hands with the BJP.

Ajit Pawar, however, has reiterated that he would stay in the NCP till his last moment. Incidentally, Ajit Pawar was sharing the dais with Sharad Pawar when the latter made his bombshell announcement on May 2.

-PTI