MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has withdrawn his decision to quit as party chief after the NCP’s committee passed a resolution rejecting his resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded.
Sharad Pawar had on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party president’s post. While addressing a press conference, Pawar informed about the decision and said, “Because of your love and respect I am taking back my decision to step down as party chief.”
“I can’t disrespect your sentiments. Due to your love, I am respecting the demand that was made to me to withdraw my resignation and the resolution that was passed by senior NCP leaders. I withdraw my decision to step down as the national president of Nationalist Congress Party”, Pawar said.
“After my 63 years of public life, I felt I was relieved from my post, but after this, there was a strong reaction from the workers of NCP, the public along with numerous workers and office bearers, expressed sadness over this decision and urged me to reconsider”, he added further.
When asked about the absence of Ajit Pawar at the press conference where he withdrew his resignation he said, “Others are here. Committee took this decision and after their decision, I took my decision back. All are united and discussed this. Senior leaders are there in the committee.”
Pawar refuted speculations of a rift in the NCP, but also said that if anybody wants to leave, nobody can stop them. “If someone wants to go, irrespective of the party, no one can stop him. Leadership is needed for this, there is no need to work yourself to stop it. The leader should take care of how to make the organisation healthy by being on the front foot. But there is nothing like this (possibility of disintegration) in our party”, he said.
Sharing the anecdotes ahead of his announcement of resigning as party president Pawar recalled how his colleagues were suggesting him to remain on his post and appoint Supriya Sule (his daughter) as working president. “When I had taken my decision and my party colleagues were coming to me to make me understand, some of them felt that I won’t be taking my decision back and suggested that I stay on in the my post and appoint Supriya Sule as working president. But this proposal was rejected by my other colleagues and Supriya Sule as well”. (ANI)