Live Updates: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar Revokes Resignation; Ajit Skips Briefing
The resolution was passed in a meeting by several leaders including Supriya Sule, Praful Patel, & Chhagan Bhujbal.
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Sule Snubs Media's Questions
While Sule refused to respond to media's questions on Friday ahead of the meet, Patel is likely to address the media shortly.
Party Worker Attempts to Self Immolate
Chaos ensued after a party worker tried to self-immolate in protest against Sharad Pawar's resignation. He was dragged inside the party office later.
Committee Rejects Sharad Pawar's Resolution
A committee of senior leaders appointed to take a decision on appointing a new party chief rejected Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar's resignation from the post.
"The resolution passed in the party meeting said: "Shri Sharad Pawar must withdraw his resignation and continue to lead the party at the national level for a few more years."
Who all Were Present in the Meet
The resolution was passed after a meeting attended by several senior leaders including Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Anil Deshmukh, Eknath Khadse, and Sunil Tatkare among others.
Working President Likely to be Appointed
A proposal to appoint a working president to work under Sharad Pawar will be pitched to Sharad Pawar to decide upon, sources say.
'Want Sharad Pawar to Withdraw Resignation': Praful Patel Addresses Media
Addressing the media after the meet, head of the appointed committed and Rajya Saha MP said: "We have passed a resolution to reject his resignation. We got calls from all over the country to urge him to withdraw his decision."
Saying that no senior leaders were taken into confidence before announcing his resignation on Tuesday, Patel said: "We will meet him today and submit the resolution."
"This is our decision. We will tell him that we will not be able to appoint a new chief," he added.
Decision Taken Unanimously: Eknath Khadse
Speaking to the media, NCP leader Eknath Khadse said that the decision to reject Pawar's resignation was taken unanimously.
"We cannot say whether he will accept the decision," he said.
Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel at Sharad Pawar's Residence
Senior NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, and Rohit Pawar arrived at Sharad Pawar's residence Silver Oak in Mumbai to apprise him of the committee's decision.
'Decision Unacceptable to Leaders Across Country': Jayant Patil
"You could see the unrest in the cadre across the state. That's why this decision was taken today. We are positive that he will respect our decision and not disappoint our supporters," Patil said.
"There is no question of stepping out of the MVA," Patil added while being quizzed about the party's future prospects.
"There are Lok Sabha and Assembly elections due next year. Leaders from the party and across the country urged him to take back his decision," he added.
Sharad Pawar Quits or Not, Staying With MVA Best for Ajit. What's The Catch?
Perennially under the cloud of suspicion of engineering a rebellion to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ajit Pawar is once again being touted as the "next in line" to take over the reins if Sharad Pawar does not change his decision to resign.
Several aspects will help understand why it suits Ajit Pawar politically to stay with the MVA for now and what may force him to rethink it in the future:
The growing strength of the NCP in the state and MVA
The BJP having less to offer
What the Shiv Sena may offer
The aftermath of Sharad Pawar's resignation announcement
'Welcome the Resolution': Shiv Sena
"We welcome the resolution to reject his rejection. There is no other alternative before the NCP," said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
"The country needs a leader like Sharad Pawar given the current situation and need for Opposition unity. Uddhav Thackeray feels the sam," he added.
Attacking the BJP for allegedly attempting to break the NCP, Raut said: "Just like they threatened the Shiv Sena leaders with cases by central agencies last year and broke the party, same attempts are being made with the NCP," he added.
'Have Apprised Him of the Decision': Praful Patel
NCP leader Praful Patel said that Sharad Pawar has asked for more time to think on the resolution by party committee that rejected his resignation as the NCP chief.
"We showed him the resolution and told him that he should respect it. we urged him to respect our sentiments. He has asked us for some more time on the resolution," Patel said.
'We Have Done Our Job, Up To Saheb Now': Anil Deshmukh
"We told him the decision of the committee. He will think about it and take a final decision," Anil Deshmukh said.
"We did the job that we weree entrusted with, he will decide what he wants," Deshmukh added.
'Have Urged Pawar to Take a Decision Soon': Jayant Patil
After meeting Sharad Pawar at his residence, NCP leader Jayant Patil said that the committee leaders have urged him to take a decision on his resignation at the earliest.
"We urged him that leaders from across the country want him to change his decision. We submitted the resolution.He said that he will think about it," Patil said.
"He listened to all of us. We have urged him to take a decision at the earliest as all his supporters are waiting," Patil said.
What Sharad Pawar Achieved With the Resignation
The sudden announcement by Sharad Pawar to resign as the party chief took many aback with him being the sole unifying force for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Moreover, many continue to perceive Pawar also as the unifying force for a national Opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), just a year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
After the pushback that followed from the party cadre and senior leaders, Sharad Pawar said that he will "rethink his decision for the next 2-3 days." The reasons behind his resignation, however, stemmed from solving the 'brewing crisis' within the party, observers say.
The announcement achieved three goals:
Quelled a possible rebellion, as seen in the Shiv Sena, within the NCP
A reminder of who the cadre and loyal NCP voters stand by
Affirmed the NCP's supremacy within the Maha Vikas Aghadi
Sharad Pawar's Meeting With Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar Underway
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar meets Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Chhagan Bhujbal at his residence ahead of a decision on his resignation.
Sharad Pawar to Address Media at 5 pm
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to address media over his decision to resign as party chief.
Sharad Pawar to Address Media Shortly
Sharad Pawar en route to YB Chavan Centre to address the media over his decision on resignation.
'Moved by Your Resignation': Sharad Pawar Revokes Resignation
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar revoked his resignation from the post of party chief after a committee of senior party leaders passed a resolution to reject it.
"My decision to quit created unrest in my supporters and loyalists. They urged me to rethink my decision. My well wishers and party workers who love me and trust me and urged me to take back my decision. I also received several responses from across the country and the state and asked me to resume my role as the party chief. My supporters and voters have been with me for so many years, so I cannot reject their sentiments. I am moved by the love and the trust in me. I am revoking my decsion to retire from the post," Sharad Pawar said in a statement to the media.
Commenting on the succession plan, Pawar hinted at organisational changes to be made to the party in the near future "for the new generation to be able to succeed."
Addressing the media, he said that the most important task that weighed on his mind was to bring together Opposition parties ahead of the 2014 elections.
"Many leaders from the other parties including Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury urged me to continue in order to engineer Opposition unity," he said.
Quizzed on the absence of Ajit Pawar from the press conference, Sharad Pawar said that the former was a part of the committee that passed the resolution and nothing more should be made of his absence.
"Let me tell you that Ajit Pawar knew of my resignation all along but I apologise for not taking other leaders into confidence," he said.
"If I had taken other leaders into confidence, I would not have been tender my resignation," he said.
Asked about his successor, Sharad Pawar said that every leader sitting by him is capable of running the party and "successors don't need to be coronated in his parties."
'Sharad Pawar Accepted the Country's Mandate':Jayant Patil
Commenting on Sharad Pawar's decision, Jayant Patil said that the party supremo had "accepted the country's mandate."
Ajit Pawar Absent From Media Briefing
Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar was missing from the media briefing.
Sharad Pawar Resignation Live Updates: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Friday, 5 May revoked his resignation from the post of party presdent after a committee of senior party leaders passed a resolution to reject it.
"My supporters and voters have been with me for so many years, so I cannot reject their sentiments. I am moved by the love and the trust in me. I am revoking my decision to retire from the post," Sharad Pawar said in a statement to the media.
His nephew Ajit Pawar was absent from the media briefing.
Key highlights of Sharad Pawar's address:
My decision to quit created unrest within my supporters and loyalists. They urged me to rethink my decision.
My supporters and voters have been with me for so many years, so I cannot reject their sentiments. I am moved by the love and the trust in me.
There will be organisational changes made in the future for the new generation to be able to take over.
Many leaders from the other parties including Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury urged me to continue in order to engineer Opposition unity.
Ajit Pawar knew of my resignation all along, but I apologise for not taking other leaders into confidence
Every leader sitting by me is capable of running the party and successors don't get created just like that.
I cannot stop anybody who wants to leave the party.
Key Developments Through the Day:
A committee of leaders chosen to take a decision on appointing a new party chief passed a resolution to reject Sharad Pawar's resignation from the post.
The committee later met him at his residence Silver Oak to apprise him of the party's sentiments.
Chaos ensued at Mumbai's YB Chavan Centre while the meeting of the committee was underway as party workers and protesters resorted to sloganeering to urge Pawar to withdraw his resignation.
A party worker tried to self-immolate in protest against Pawar's resignation.
Following the revocation, the party cadre celebrated at the YB Chavan Centre and several party offices across the state.
(Photo: Screengrab)
NCP workers raise slogans in support of senior party leader Sharad Pawar, who recently resigned from the post of party president, outside party office, in Mumbai, Friday, May 5, 2023.
NCP workers try to stop a fellow worker who attempted self-immolation during a protest in support of senior party leader Sharad Pawar, who recently resigned from the post of party president, outside party office, in Mumbai, Friday, May 5, 2023.
Senior leaders Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Dilip Walse Patil at the party's meeting that passed a resolution to reject Sharad Pawar's resignation on Friday, 5 May.
Senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Eknath Khadse, and Sunil Tatkare at the party's meeting that passed a resolution to reject Sharad Pawar's resignation on Friday, 5 May.
Praful Patel addresses media on the committee's decision to reject Sharad Pawar's resignation on Friday, 5 May.
NCP workers raise slogans during a protest in support of senior party leader Sharad Pawar, who recently resigned from the post of party president, outside party office, in Mumbai, Friday, May 5, 2023.
Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) Sharad Pawar arrives to interact with party workers and supporters during their dharna urging Pawar to withdraw his resignation from the post of party president, at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) Sharad Pawar interacts with party workers and supporters during their dharna urging Pawar to withdraw his resignation from the post of party president, at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers and supporters stage a dharna urging party chief Sharad Pawar, to withdraw his resignation from the post of party president, at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule with workers and supporters during their dharna to urge party chief Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation from the post of party president, at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
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Published: 05 May 2023,11:34 AM IST