Former NCP chief Sharad Pawar speaking during his autobiography launch.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
NCP leader Sharad Pawar on May 2 declared that he will step down as Nationalist Congress Party president during his autobiography book launch.
“After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back. Hence, I have decided to step down as President of the Nationalist Congress Party,” he said, as party cadre demonstrated and urged him to reconsider.
“I intend to do more in the fields of education, agriculture, cooperation, sports and culture, amongst others. I will also pay attention to issues related to the youth, students, workers, Dalits, tribals and other weaker sections of the society,” Mr. Pawar said at the release of his updated version of political memoirs.
There has been no announcement yet on who will succeed Mr. Pawar as the NCP chief, but Mr. Pawar said a committee may be formed to select the next party president.
“I am recommending that a committee of NCP members should be formed to decide on the election of the vacancy in the President’s post…This committee will decide on the president’s selection. It will continue to strive for the growth of the party organisation, to take the ideology and goals of the party to the people, and to serve the people, as they deem fit,” Mr. Pawar said.
After Mr. Pawar’s announcement, nephew Ajit Pawar said Sharad Pawar will abide by the decision of the NCP committee on his resignation.
NCP leader Praful Patel also said that Sharad Pawar did not take anyone into confidence before announcing resignation.
Party workers and leaders, however, demanded that Mr. Pawar withdraw his decision. They threatened not to leave the venue unless he rescind his decision.
A four-time Maharashtra Chief Minister, who served as Union Defence and Agriculture Minister, Mr. Pawar was instrumental in stitching together an unlikely coalition of the NCP, Congress and then ideologically opposite Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
(With PTI inputs)