Sharad Pawar on new parliamentary building
Veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar has announced his resignation from the post of chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today i.e. on Tuesday.
Sharad Pawar steps down from NCP chief
Speaking at a book launch event of his autobiography at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan in Mumbai, the politician announced his decision to his party workers, saying, “I have decided to step down as NCP president.”
#WATCH | "I am resigning from the post of the national president of NCP," says NCP chief Sharad Pawar pic.twitter.com/tTiO8aCAcK
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2023
Despite his decision, Pawar has clarified the dilemma about leaving politics as well. The leader said he would not retire from active politics.
The four times Maharashtra’s Chief Minister told NCP workers, “My colleagues, even though I am stepping down from the post of president, I am not retiring from public life. ‘Constant travel’ has become an integral part of my life. I will continue attending public events, and meetings. Whether I am in Pune, Mumbai, Baramati, Delhi, or any other part of India, I will be available to all of you as usual.”
According to the press statements issued by him, Sharad Pawar said, “I have three years left of Rajya Sabha membership in Parliament, during which I will focus on issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not taking any responsibility. 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.”
No successor name revealed
During his announcement, Pawar has not named his successor till now. He said, “A committee will be formed to decide who should be given the responsibility of the party chief’s post.”
Also, the panel members of the committee will be his daughter Supriya Sule, nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Chhagan Bhujbal, and others.
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About Sharad Pawar & his political career
Taking notes from Pawar’s leadership, he is the co-founder of the NCP Party. In 1999, Pawar, PA Sangma and Tariq Anwar formed the NCP party after they were expelled from the Indian National Congress over some old dispute with Sonia Gandhi, the former INC president.
Pawar was elected as chief minister of Maharashtra four times in his political career. He also served as Union Defence and Agriculture minister. Pawar was instrumental in forming an alliance among the NCP, Congress and then ideologically opposite Shiv Sena, popularly known as Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
