Big change in Maharashtra politics says BJP after Pawar’s decision

There is going to be a bigger change in Maharashtra as Sharad Pawar decided to step down as the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the BJP has claimed.

BJP's national vice-president Dilip Ghosh told news agency ANI, "since a lot of days there has been some turmoil in Maharashtra politics. There have been some talks going on. This is a result of it. NCP's survival is in jeopardy, Sharad Pawar is losing his power."

In an unexpected move, Sharad Pawar announced that he was stepping down as NCP chief. Speaking a the book launch of his autobiography, Pawar said that after a long period it was time for him to take a step back. It is also the time for a new generation to guide the party he said.

At an event where over 600 party members had gathered he said that after such a long career a person should think of stopping at some point.

He however made it clear that he is not retiring from active politics. Even though I am stepping down from the post of president, I am not returning from active life. I will continue to attend public events and meetings, the NCP boss had said.

While he made this announcement, there were protests and emotional NCP workers held rallies in which they threatened suicide across the state of Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar said that his uncle would take a day or two to reconsider his decision.

Pawar following his resignation had said that a committee has been formed to take a decision on who would be the next chief of the NCP.