'Will Rethink Decision To Quit as NCP Chief': Sharad Pawar After Unrest in Party

In a shock to party cadre, Sharad Pawar on Tuesday unexpectedly announced his resignation as the NCP president.

Sharad Pawar resigns as NCP chief

(Photo: PTI)

Following hours of unrest in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over his decision to resign as the party chief, veteran leader Sharad Pawar said that he "needs 2-3 days to rethink his decision."

In a shock to party cadre, Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, 2 May, unexpectedly announced his resignation as the party president, stating that "it's time for the new generation to guide the party and the direction it intends to take."

"We met him at Silver Oak (Pawar's official residence) and told him what the people of Maharashtra and the NCP workers want. He was watching all your protests on TV and he saw the unrest amongst you. He spoke to me, Rohit Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Chhaggan Bhujbal, and told us that he needs 2-3 days to rethink his decision," party leader Ajit Pawar said while addressing the media outside Silver Oak.

The decision by Pawar came after NCP leaders and workers launched massive protests in Mumbai and other parts of the state to urge him to withdraw his resignation.

(Photo: PTI)

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar with his wife and party leaders during a book launch event in Mumbai on Tuesday, 2 May.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar and other party leaders during a book launch event  in Mumbai on Tuesday, 2 May.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar with his wife and party leader Ajit Pawar during a book launch event in Mumbai on Tuesday, 2 May.

In this photo dated 25 April 2023, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar during an event in Mumbai.

'Time for the New Generation': What Pawar Said as He Announced Resignation

Addressing the party cadre at the Yashwantrao Chavan Foundation in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar spoke about his political career spanning over six decades.

Sharad Pawar also recommended the formation of a committee to decide on the election to fill the vacancy of the president's post.

"During the 56 years of my being a public representative, I have had the privilege of serving as a member of the state Assembly and of the Legislative Council, as well as a Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," he said.

Listing the multiple offices he has held during this time, Pawar added, "During this long tenure, I have been entrusted with multiple responsibilities such as ministerial posts in various departments in the state government; Leader of Opposition in the State Legislature; a four-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra; India's Defence Minister; Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and India's Agriculture Minister during the UPA government."

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar with party leaders during a book launch event, in Mumbai, Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Pawar on Tuesday said he has decided to step down as the party chief.

(Photo: PTI)

Pawar said that "it’s time for a new generation to guide the party and the direction it intends to take."

"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."

Sharad Pawar

The following names were proposed by Pawar to constitute the said committee: Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, K.K. Sharma, PC Chacko, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Jitendra Awhad, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Jaydev Gaikwad, Fauzia Khan, Dheeraj Sharma, Sonia Duhan, and presidents of Nationalist Youth Congress and Nationalist Students' Congress.

Unrest in NCP, Protests Across State: What Happened After Announcement

In a show of hands, NCP leaders present at the press conference that was being addressed by Sharad Pawar, refused to accept the latter's resignation. "We do not accept saheb’s decision," they said as many were spotted to be in tears on stage.

"We reject this committee that you have formed. You were and will always be our leader, end of story," said an emotional Chhagan Bhujbal, NCP MLA from Yeola Assembly.

Responding to the demands of the party leaders and workers, Sharad Pawar said: "I am just quitting from the post, not stepping away from my people."

NCP leader Praful Patel, too, urged the cadre to be patient after they refused to leave the venue till Sharad Pawar changed his decision.

"He is not resigning as the Rajya Sabha MP either. Please don't force an elderly man at this age. We will speak to him and announce a decision today itself. We are not going to advise anything different than what we have expressed here. But these discussions will have to happen properly," Patel said.

At the end of the press conference, Ajit Pawar assured that he and other senior party members will talk to Sharad Pawar about reconsidering his decision.

"We have listened to everyone. I request all of you, let Saheb go home. We will try and convince him and try and find a way that you all want," he said.

Hundreds of cadre could be seen sloganeering outside the residence.

In protest against Pawar's resignation, the NCP chiefs of Dharashiv and Buldana resigned from their posts.

A meeting of senior NCP leaders was later held at Sharad Pawar's residence Silver Oak in Mumbai to decide the next course of action, following which the party chief put his decision on hold.

Why Pawar Put Decision To Resign 'On Hold'

Addressing the media, party leaders Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Rohit Pawar, and Chhaggan Bhujbal said that the party chief was "pained to see the protests by the cadre."

"We told him that we do not accept his decision and neither the party workers. He said that he was firm on his decision, but he was pained to see what the supporters are putting themselves through," Ajit Pawar told the media.

"As an alternative, we have suggested that he remains the party chief and appoints a 'Working President' to work under his guidance," he said.

Sharad Pawar also urged supporters to stop protests and go home, otherwise he will not change his decision, Ajit Pawar said.

Bhujbal said that Sharad Pawar understood that his decision came as a shock to the supporters across the state.

"We explained to him that the cadre is disturbed, office-bearers are resigning, and scores of NCP workers have set for Mumbai from across the state to join the protests. He was pained to see the situation," Bhujbal said.

Sena Says Pawar Victim of 'Dirty Politics'; BJP To 'Wait & Watch'

Responding to the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut tweeted to say that Sharad Pawar was a victim of "dirty politics" just like Bal Thackeray was.

"Fed up by dirty Politics and allegations, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray too had resigned as the Shiv Sena Pramukh. History seems to have repeated itself. But owing to the love of Shiv sainiks, he had to withdraw his decision. Like Balasaheb, Pawar Saheb too is the soul of the state's politics," Raut said.

BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said: "This is the NCP's internal matter. We will comment later after concrete developments."

"This is a personal choice of Sharad Pawar and an internal matter of the NCP. There is a lot of discussion and brainstorming going on. It is not appropriate for me to talk about it at this moment. We are monitoring the situation. We will talk about it at the right time," he said.