NCP workers protest in Mumbai after Sharad Pawar quits party's top post

Hours after veteran leader Sharad Pawar announced his decision of stepping down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party NCP scores of party workers on Tuesday hit the streets in Mumbai and protested against the decisionNCP workers protested outside Mumbais YB Chavan Centre urging Pawar to take his decision backEarlier in the day Sharad Pawar announced that he has decided to step down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party NCP after helming it for 24 years and stated that he will not contest any more electionsAfter this prolonged period of political career from May 1 1960 to May 1 2023 it is necessary to take a step back Hence I have decided to step down as President of the Nationalist Congress Party Pawar said after the launch of the second edition of his autobiography Lok Maze SangatiHe further said that he would continue working in the political social and cultural life I have three years tenure remaining in Rajya Sabha I will not contest elections now the veteran leader saidAjit Pawar the nephew of Sharad Pawar supported the latters decision to step down from the partys top post Pawar Sahab himself had said about the necessity of change in the guard a few days ago we should see his decision in the light of his age and health also Everyone has to take a decision according to time Pawar Saheb has taken a decision and he wont take it back Ajit Pawar saidMeawhile Sharad Pawar recommended a committee of senior NCP leaders to decide on the future course of action The committee will include Praful Patel Sunil Tatkare P C Chacko Narhari Zirwal Ajit Pawar Supriya Sule Jayant Patil Chhagan Bhujabl Dilip WalsePatil Anil Deshmukh Rajesh Tope Jitendra Awhad Hasan Mushrif Dhananjay Munde Jaydev Gaikwad and chiefs of party frontal cells Pawar saidRecalling his political career the NCP supremo said Since the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party in 1999 I have had the privilege of being elected as its President which today is in its 24th year This entire journey of being in public life which began on May 1 1960 has continued unabated for the past 63 years having served Maharashtra and India in various capacities during this periodAlso Read IN PHOTOS Sharad Pawar resigns from post supporters protestI have three years tenure remaining in Rajya Sabha I will not contest elections henceforth In these three years I will concentrate more on issues concerning to state and the country I will not take any additional responsibilities I started my political career on May 1 1960 Yesterday we celebrated May Day After this prolonged political career one must think about stopping somewhere One must not be greedy I will never take the position of sticking to a post after so many years Therefore you might feel uneasy But I have decided to retire from the post of the NCP chief Pawar further saidThe fourtime chief minister of Maharashtra has previously served as the Minister of Defence in the Cabinet of P V Narsimha Rao and as Minister of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Manmohan SinghHe was the first and former president of the Nationalist Congress Party NCP which was founded in 1999 after separating from the Indian National CongressSpeaking after the release of his autobiography Pawar said that it was time for a new generation to guide the party and the direction it intends to takeThe NCP leader however said that he would not take retirement from public life even after resigning from the party postEven though I am stepping down from the post of president I am not retiring from public life Constant travel has become an integral part of my life I will continue attending public events and meetings Whether in Pune Mumbai Baramati Delhi or any other part of India I will be available to all of you as usual I will continue to work round the clock to solve the peoples problems he saidParty MP Praful Patel said We have requested Sharad Pawar ji with folded hand to withdraw the decision I request him to withdraw the decision on behalf of all The state and the country need his leadershipIn an attempt to pacify agitated party workers Patel said Repeating the same thing wont solve any purpose and its meaningless We senior leaders will talk to Pawar SahebThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever