‘Relieve me as Leader of Opposition in Assembly’: ‘Sidelined’Ajit Pawar tells party brass

New Delhi: Days after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar unveiled the party’s succession plan, the ‘sidelined’party leader & nephew Ajit Pawar has sought to step down from the post of Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Maharashtra Assembly.
Ajit Pawar has reportedly told the party’s top brass to relieve him of his duties as LOP in state assembly and assign him any role in the party.

Ajit’s decision to step down from the post clearly hints at the shifting power balance in the party. A leader, who was largely seen as the heir apparent of Sharad Pawar, is now no longer seen wielding any influence in the party. If Ajit Pawar’s request is accepted by the party, this would bring the ‘powerplay’ in the party to an end.

Notably, the party for sometime, was seen divided with different factions taking shape, one under Ajit Pawar & the other under top brass. Ajit was inclined towards BJP and is said to have support of some leaders while the NCP’s core leadership was against any association with saffron party.

It was on back of intense infighting, Sharad Pawar announced stepping down as party chief. But, little did anyone knew that this tactical move would have brought internal rivalry to an end.

The rumblings & rifts within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were effectively settled with Sharad Pawar ‘installing’daughter Supriya Sule & Praful Patel as the working presidents of party.

Now, with Ajit Pawar stepping down as leader of Opposition in Assembly, this would sent underlying message to NCP leaders & workers about who is calling the shots in the party.