The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has been in the news since the sudden announcement of Sharad Pawar’s resignation as its chief. The announcement, which he made during the launch of his memoirs, came as a shock to many party members and political analysts. However, the top leaders of the NCP have rejected his resignation unanimously, and have requested him to continue as the party’s national president. This decision was made in a meeting held in Mumbai, which was attended by Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, and nephew Ajit Pawar.
The Backdrop of Emotional Protests
The meeting, led by senior NCP leader Praful Patel, was held against the backdrop of emotional protests from the party cadre, including a self-immolation attempt. The situation was tense, and there was a lot of speculation about the party’s future. The NCP leaders, however, stood united in their decision to reject Sharad Pawar’s resignation.
Sharad Pawar’s Decision
Sharad Pawar, who is 82 years old, founded the NCP in 1999. He has been its chief since then. In the meeting, he told his colleagues that he needed time to think about continuing as the party chief. This statement has left the party workers and leaders uncertain about his future role in the party.
Others are here. Committee took this decision and after their decision, I took my decision back. All are united and discussed this. Senior leaders are there in the committee: NCP chief Sharad Pawar when asked about the absence of Ajit Pawar at the press conference where he… pic.twitter.com/xAJslpyKUu
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
Unanimous Decision by the Panel
The panel, led by Praful Patel, unanimously passed a resolution during the meeting. The resolution stated that Sharad Pawar should continue as the national president and that his decision to step down from the post has been opposed by everyone. Praful Patel, while talking to reporters, said, “All of us want Sharad Pawar to continue as the party president. He should respect the feelings of lakhs of us and continue as the president.” Later, he added, “We informed Pawar about the committee decision, he said he needs some time to think over it.”
Speculation About Succession Plans
There has been a lot of speculation about the succession plans of the party since Sharad Pawar’s announcement. Many believed that Supriya Sule, his daughter, would take over his role, while Ajit Pawar would become the “party’s face in Maharashtra”. However, in the meeting in Mumbai, the panel stalled any succession plans for now, reaffirming Sharad Pawar’s dominance over the party.
Ajit Pawar’s Role in the Party
There was no talk of a clear role for Ajit Pawar in the party. His reported dalliance with the BJP was believed to have been a factor behind Sharad Pawar’s surprise move. Many believed that Sharad Pawar wanted to forestall Ajit Pawar and a split in the party that might follow.
Reaffirmation of Sharad Pawar’s Dominance Over the Party
Today’s decision reaffirms Sharad Pawar’s dominance over his party and sends the ball back into his court. The NCP workers celebrated this decision, and there were fireworks and celebrations in the party’s headquarters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rejection of Sharad Pawar’s resignation as the NCP chief has come as a relief to many party workers and leaders. His sudden announcement had created a lot of uncertainty about the party’s future. However, the unanimous decision by the panel, and the reaffirmation of his dominance over the party, have put all speculations to rest. Sharad Pawar, who founded the NCP in 1999, has been its chief since then, and his leadership has been crucial in the party’s success
Source: NDTV
