Sharad Pawar to continue as party chief: Will focus on creating new leadership

His daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil and senior party leader Praful Patel were among those present at the press meet. Incidentally, Pawar’s nephew and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar was absent.

“Even though I am continuing in the post of president, I am of the clear opinion that there has to be a succession plan for any post or responsibility in the organisation. In future, I will focus on making organisational changes in the party, assigning new responsibilities, creating new leadership,” Pawar said.

The NCP chief brushed off speculation surrounding the absence of Ajit Pawar, who had openly supported his decision to step down and had asked party workers not to get emotional about it, at the press conference. He said: “All the party leaders who were part of the committee (to decide on the resignation) had come to meet me this afternoon. This is my press conference. Nobody was invited to this press conference. Do all reporters attend all press conferences?”

He also rubbished speculation about a section of the NCP willing to join hands with the BJP. “This has no truth in it,” he said.

Ajit Pawar, in a statement later in the day, said he welcomed his uncle’s decision to withdraw his resignation. The decision will boost “the unity within the party and of Maha Vikas Aghadi as well as opposition parties in the country”, he said.

Earlier in the day, after rejecting Pawar’s decision to step down as party chief, the committee members met the veteran leader at his residence to inform him about their decision. “The committee has passed a resolution unanimously. It says NCP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Pawar’s resignation has been unanimously rejected. It recommends that Sharad Pawar should remain at the post as party president,” said committee convener Praful Patel after the panel’s meeting.

He said several political leaders across the country had called him and others, saying Sharad Pawar should remain the party president. “Not only leaders but workers of the party, too, expressed this opinion. We cannot ignore the emotions of party workers,” Patel said, adding that Pawar’s role at the national level was important as well in the present situation.

Pawar, too, referred to the calls he received from opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury. “Bringing various parties together is important when it comes to elections. I enjoy personal relationships with many who said that I was required for this,” Pawar said.

He acknowledged the protests by party workers and leaders seeking withdrawal of his resignation. “I did expect a reaction, but I must admit that my assessment about the intensity of the reaction was wrong, I never expected this type of intensity,” he said.

Workers who had gathered outside the NCP headquarters since early morning celebrated the committee’s decision by bursting crackers and chanting slogans. Hours earlier, a party worker attempted self-immolation but was stopped by others present at the party office.