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Journalism of Courage
Even as emotions ran high among top leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) who joined the chorus of workers appealing to party president Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation, his nephew and senior party leader Ajit Pawar emerged as the man-in-charge who was seen controlling the situation, while going against the tide to support his uncle’s decision, and asking everyone to stay calm.
“He is thinking about handing over the leadership to a new leader. Irrespective of who holds the position, the party will work under saheb (Sharad Pawar). Just like the Congress, which runs on the word of Soniaji… even though Mallikarjun Kharge is the president… Let’s not get emotional about all of this,” Ajit addressed the crowd of party workers and leaders who were chanting slogans and were adamant over not moving from the event site until Pawar announces withdrawal of his resignation at the YB Chavan center in South Mumbai.
He clarified that the announcement was to happen on May 1 but it was delayed by a day owing to the Vajramooth rally of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Ajit was also seen commanding the crowd of party workers by even using angry words, when needed. On one occasion, when the crowd demanded that Pawar’s daughter and LS MP Supriya Sule address the gathering, Ajit intervened and told her not to do so. “I am telling you as an elder brother,” he said. He did not mince his words to calm down the crowd, which refused to let Pawar go despite repeated requests from NCP MP Praful Patel.
Ajit, contradicting earlier speakers, continued saying that there was no need to be worried about having a new party president. “Ultimately, that person will also get an opportunity to learn from Saheb,” he said.
His speech came on the backdrop of repeated requests by top brass of the NCP asking Pawar to withdraw his resignation. While Ajit Pawar seemed the person in control, some other top NCP leaders seemed in shock and even clueless of what lies ahead for them.
“You can take our resignation if you want. Shape the party as you wish. But don’t leave the party. We cannot work without you,” NCP’s state president Jayant Patil said as he sobbed. Another senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that the excuse of getting old cannot be accepted. “You work more than us, even today. We have always been with you and it is impossible to work without you,” he said. NCP MLA Anil Patil said that all MLAs and MPs would resign with the NCP chief. As all NCP leaders and workers joined the chorus, Ajit remained the sole voice throughout the event to voice contradictory sentiments.
Later, after meeting Pawar at his residence he again returned to the Y B Chavan center with MLA Rohit Pawar, Bhujbal and Sule to address workers with a message from senior Pawar. Addressing the media, he conveyed Pawar’s message to workers and announced that resignation offered in different parts of the state will not be accepted.
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