Team News Riveting
Mumbai, May 2
Senior Maharashtra politician and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar today announced that he has stepped down as president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
However, he made it clear that he was not retiring from politics yet. There was no immediate announcement yet from the NCP who would succeed him as party chief.
The four-time Maharashtra Chief Minister and former Union Minister made the surprise announcement at a book launch event of his autobiography in Mumbai on Tuesday. His nephew Ajit Pawar was by his side.
Interestingly, Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule had hinted a fortnight ago at “two big political explosions” in the next 15 days. The move comes amid buzz around his nephew Ajit Pawar, a former Deputy Chief Minister, warming up to the BJP.
The Maharashtra political corridor is abuzz with speculations of Ajit Pawar jumping ship when he skipped a meeting of his party’s Mumbai unit last month. He denied the rumours and cited his pre-engagements. He said nothing much should be read into this. BJP had then said Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders were defaming him and questioning his credibility.
The BJP, which is reportedly eyeing a split in the Maharashtra alliance to consolidate its position before 2024 general election, had openly said it would “welcome” Ajit Pawar. The NCP along with the Shiv Sena (Uddhav) and Congress is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in the state.
The NCP workers and leaders, many of whom could be seen in tears, lodged strong protest against the decision and urged Pawar to reconsider. They threatened not to leave the venue unless he rescinded his decision.
Pawar announced a panel of senior party leaders to draw a future course of action.
