Sharad Pawar quits as NCP chief, won't contest elections in future

Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar, announced his resignation as party leader on Tuesday. He will not, however, resign from active politics. According to Pawar, a committee would be constituted to decide who will be assigned the job of party chief. He stated that senior members of the panel should include Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Chhagan Bhujbal, and others. Sharad Pawar told his emotional workers opposing his resignation, “I am with you, but not as NCP chief”. "After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back," 82-year-old Sharad Pawar, who has played a pivotal role in bringing together opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, said in a surprise announcement at the launch of his autobiography in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The four-time Maharashtra chief minister made the surprise announcement with nephew Ajit Pawar by his side. His decision was met with protests by NCP workers and leaders, many of whom could be seen in tears. Emotional party workers and leaders begged Pawar to withdraw his decision and said they wouldn't leave unless he did so. Top NCP leader and Rajya Sabha Praful Patel said Sharad Pawar did not take anyone into confidence before announcing his resignation. As per political sources,  the resignation comes against the backdrop of speculation that his nephew Ajit Pawar would join hands with the BJP in Maharashtra. A veteran politician and four-time Maharashtra chief minister, Pawar played a key role in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra in 2019 by bringing together the ideologically diverse NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena parties. He has also served as Union defence and agriculture minister.