New Delhi: Two days after quitting as the party chief, Nationalist Congress President (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Thursday met his supporters & party workers who are peeved at his decision and demanding that he take back the resignation.
The outgoing NCP supremo met party workers outside YB Chavan centre in Mumbai, where hundreds of his supporters gathered & demonstrated against his exit as party chief.
Seeking to pacify the agitated workers & supporters, Sharad Pawar said that he took the decision “for the future of party as it needed fresh blood & new leadership.” He reiterated that he was not retiring from active politics and will continue to work as active member.
“I respect your sentiments. I should have discussed my plans with all of you and taken you into confidence. But I know you wouldn’t have allowed me to take the decision (of stepping down as party chief),” Pawar told the gathering of his supporters.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Sharad Pawar meets NCP workers amid protest by them after resignation announcement by Pawar as party chief. pic.twitter.com/m9amIsITHv
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2023
After Pawar announced stepping down as NCP chief, emotions ran high as many party workers along with top-rung leaders got teary-eyed over his announcement. Many asked him to reconsider his decision to step down. Facing intense pressure, the NCP chief had said that he will take 2-3 days to reconsider & reconfirm his decision.
Pawar’s meeting with his supporters comes a day ahead of crucial NCP top brass meet, where the party is likely to elect its new chief, who will lead the party into 2024 electoral battle. Among various names doing the rounds for being named his successor include Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar and a couple of top party leaders.
The committee that will pick new party chief has many senior members namely Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Anil Deshmukh, and Rajesh Tope.
