The NCP Core Committee set up to choose the new Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief rejected incumbent president Sharad Pawar's resignation. Senior party leader Praful Patel while addressing media informed that the committee unanimously passed a resolution and rejected Pawar's decision to step down as party chief.
“The committee has unanimously passed a resolution. It unanimously rejects his decision to step down and urges him to continue as party president,” Patel said after a meeting of the committee.
NCP veteran leader Pawar himself after announcing that he would be resigning as the party chief on May 2, had set up the NCP core committee that included senior leader Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, former union minister Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal.
“We will meet Pawar Saheb with this resolution and request him to reconsider his decision,” Patel, who is also the vice president and convenor of the committee said. He further asserted that the country need a leader like Pawar. “Pawar saheb is a respected leader in the country. There was a strong response against Pawar’s decision. The emotions cannot be ignored,” Patel said.
As the meeting was underway, several NCP workers wearing caps with the message “I am with saheb” demanded that Pawar reconsider his decision.
Leader of the 24-year-old party earlier on May 2, Tuesday sprang a surprise by announcing his decision to step down as the president of the party he founded in 1999. He made this announcement at an event that stumped the party leaders and workers.
Rajya Sabha MP and one of the stalwarts of the Opposition, Pawar had reiterated that he will step down as NCP chief but will not retire from public life.
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