Sharad Pawar’s decision to step down as NCP chief stuns party members, Ajit says ‘this was to happen someday’

Tha Baramati MLA said a change in leadership had to happen someday. “He talked about changing leadership in the past but we had no clue that he was talking about himself. We all flourished under Pawar saheb but this was to happen someday,” he said, adding that the emotions of the workers have been taken note of and a committee will take the right decision about the party’s future.

A shocked Praful Patel requested Sharad Pawar to withdraw his decision. “He is not going to react immediately but I can assure that he is as connected to you all like. The state and the country needs his leadership,” he said.

An emotional Jayant Patil said Sharad Pawar remaining the NCP chief is important not just for Maharashtra but for the country.

“This sudden decision cannot be taken, he has no right to take such decision. We need his experience even today. You can take resignations from us all, shape the party the manner in which you want. But don’t leave the party. We cannot work without you,” Patil said.

Meanwhile, Chhagan Bhujbal said the reason of being old is not acceptable. “We don’t accept your excuse of getting old. You work more than us,even today. We don’t believe in this committee and all.”

NCP MLA Anil Patil said, “If you don’t withdraw this decision, we will submit our resignations from MLA and MP posts. After being fed up by dirty politics and accusations, Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray had also resigned as party pramukh. History seems to have repeated itself. But owing to the love of Shiv sainiks, he had to withdraw his decision.”

A tearful Jitendra Awhad said it is impossible to fight the battle ahead without Sharad Pawar at the helm, while Hasan Mushrif said that “our political life is because of you”.

NCP MLA Dilip Walse-Patil said, “You have always worked for every section of the society. It is time that opposition unity must be formed at the Centre. At the state level, it is important for the growth of the NCP that you remain our chief. You must withdraw the resignation.”

Narhari Zirwal, deputy speaker of Maharashtra assembly and NCP MLA, said, “We have already started receiving phone calls from our constituencies. There is no question of accepting your decision.”

Sharad Pawar announced that he will continue working in the “political, social and cultural life henceforth” and will not contest elections once his Rajya Sabha tenure ends in three years. Even as he thanked party leaders and workers for standing by him during his over six-decades-long career, those in the audience stood up and raised slogans demanding that Sharad Pawar takes back the decision to step down as NCP chief.

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