NCP committee resolution rejects Pawar's resignation as party chief

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday passed a resolution rejecting Sharad Pawar's resignation as party chief and has requested him to continue to lead the party.

A committee formed by Sharad Pawar met on Friday to decide on his successor and unanimously passed a proposal, rejecting his resignation, NCP Vice President Praful Patel said after the meeting.

"Several leaders including me met Pawar Saheb and we requested him continuously to rethink over his decision as the country and party need him at this hour. Not only NCP leaders but other party leaders and eminent personalities also requested him to continue as party chief," he stated.

He claimed that the NCP supremo took the call without informing the party workers. "Considering all the demands of the party workers and leader we took a meeting today and the committee has passed a proposal unanimously. The committee unanimously rejects this resignation and we request him to continue on his post of party president," he added.

The committee members include Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, his nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, among others. Pawar on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by saying he was stepping down as chief of the NCP which he founded and helmed since 1999, but not retiring from public life.

#WATCH | Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers celebrate outside the party office in Mumbai

NCPs core committee unanimously passed a proposal today and rejected Sharad Pawars resignation and requested him to continue as NCP chief. pic.twitter.com/7VpHucZqtR

— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023

The NCP supremo had announced that he was stepping down as the party president on Tuesday at the launch of his autobiography.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin appealed to the veteran leader to reconsider his decision to quit as the president of NCP, keeping in mind his role in forging a "secular alliance" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"With national politics centred around the upcoming 2024 General Elections, I request Thiru. @PawarSpeaks, one of the tallest leaders, crucial in strengthening secular alliance across India, to reconsider his decision to relinquish the President post of @NCPspeaks and continue to lead NCP," he said in a tweet.