Sharad Pawar’s decision to quit NCP president has sent the party workers and leaders in tizzy with emotional scenes witnessed at Mumbai.
Pawar made the announcement during the launch of his autobiography at Mumbai this afternoon which made NCP workers and leaders emotional, as per NDTV report.
Pawar’s announcement sparked loud protests by NCP workers and leaders, who demanded withdrawal of his decision.
It said the party leaders including MLA Jayant Patil, broke down following the surprise announcement.
Senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Jitendra Awhad and Dilip Walse said they were not ready to accept Pawar's decision, it said.
It also said a group of party workers left the auditorium and started a sit-in outside it where slogans in support of Pawar were raised.
It mentioned 82-year-old politician Pawar, visibly overwhelmed, assured party leaders that he was not retiring from public life and urged them to accept his decision.
"Let us all work together, but accept my resignation," the report quoted Pawar as having said.
Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar, who has been the talking point in Maharashtra political circles over the past few weeks, and his daughter Supriya Sule were also present at the event, it said.
Following the surprise announcement, Ajit Pawar said that whoever is named the next party chief will work under Pawar's guidance.
Ajit Pawar He also said that Pawar's decision needs to be seen in the light of his age and health.
"Pawar Saheb has taken a decision and he won't take it back," he was quoted in the report as having said.
“When other leaders insisted that Ms Sule, a Lok Sabha MP, urge her father to withdraw the decision, Ajit Pawar asked her not to say anything,” it said.
Sharad Pawar’s decision to quit as NCP chief has come at a time when there are speculations that the party leader Ajit Pawar, who is also his nephew is set to join
BJP. However, Ajit Pawar until now has rebutted the reports and termed them as “rumours”.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, who also heads Shiv Sena has also said that if Ajit Pawar joins BJP he will quit the alliance with the party in the state.
