'We are sad, disturbed: Praful Patel on Pawar’s resignation

Hours after NCP Chief Sharad Pawar announced that he was stepping down as the chief of the party, Praful Patel said that the prominent leaders of the party will try to persuade him.

"Even when he made the announcement, I asked him on the stage itself that 'Why didn't you consult us?', to which he replied 'If I had consulted would any of you have said yes?' When he made the announcement, everybody was left shocked," Patel told ANI.

The former Union Minister claimed that they are all "sad and disturbed" over Sharad Pawar's resignation. "But, all the prominent leaders (from the party) will go to him and will try to persuade him. We are hopeful that something positive will come out," he added.

Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar announced that he was stepping down as the party chief.

"After 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 Sangati'.

However, the party workers have demanded Pawar to withdraw his resignation. Some also protested against his decision.

Later, the NCP supremo's nephew Ajit Pawar assured the protesting workers that the prominent leaders are going to meet Sharad Pawar, and urged the workers to go back home and have some food.

"Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) will always be the head of the NCP family. Whoever will be the new President will work only under Pawar Saheb's guidance,"

Ajit Pawar appealed to the party workers. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Sharad Pawar's decision to step down as party chief was an internal matter of the NCP.

"It is his personal decision....NCP's internal matter. I do not think it will be appropriate to talk about it at this stage. Sharad Pawar is a senior leader and deliberations are going on in his party. It will be appropriate to comment only after the situation gets clear," the BJP leader said.

with inputs from PTI