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Journalism of Courage
A day after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar hinted at retiring from electoral politics, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said Wednesday it won’t allow the Maratha strongman to stay away from the political field.
While seeking votes for Yugendra Pawar, the party’s Baramati candidate in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and his grand-nephew, Pawar said he will continue his public work but will not be involved in electoral or provincial politics.
“Pawar Saheb is our strong pillar and has provided inspirational leadership. For more than 60 years, he has been a guiding force. He has played a key role in the development of Maharashtra. His role as the agriculture minister brought relief to farmers across the country. He tried to uplift the lives of farmers like no other minister did. How can we allow such a giant leader to stay away from the political field,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut told The Indian Express.
Raut said Sharad Pawar is probably fed up with dirty politics being played throughout the country by the BJP and its top leadership. “It seems the low-level politics played by BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has hurt Pawar saheb badly. Pawar Saheb never played the kind of politics that the current rulers have resorted to,” he said.
Raut said Sharad Pawar had made similar announcements in the past, too. “We hope this is another off-the-cuff remark and he will continue to inspire and lead us in the political field,” he said.
Vithal Maniyar, a close friend from Pawar’s college days, said, “I don’t think Sharad Pawar will ever retire… He will never retire till his last breath. He might stay away from active politics but he will continue to be active in the social field. Being in the social field also means serving the people. He will continue to do so…Serving people, uplifting their lives, and caring for them is his passion. He has relentlessly done this for the last 60 years”
“In the next one and half years when his Rajya Sabha term ends, he will be around 84. At that moment, if his party thinks he is still needed or he believes he can still deliver, he will take the appropriate decision. Otherwise, there are several institutes which Pawar has set up. He will remain active through them,” he said.
Maniyar said Pawar can play the role of an advisor. “Who else will be an expert advisor than Pawar Saheb who has spent 60 years of his life 24×7 in politics? The government of the day can appoint him as an advisor which will be in the larger interest of the people of this country. Pawar has given leadership which is an inspiration for generations to come. He is respected by all communities in the country. Few leaders in the country enjoy such a reputation,” he added.
