As Sharad Pawar stays on as NCP Chief, Ajit silent, skips Pawar’s presser
text_fields
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar took back his resignation on Friday amid demands from cadres and party workers after he announced his decision to quit three days ago.
Ajith Pawar was the only leader to openly support the decision asking the party workers not to get sentimental about it.
“He is thinking about handing over the leadership to a new leader. Irrespective of who holds the position, the party will work under ‘saheb’ (Sharad Pawar). Let’s not get emotional about all of this,” Ajit had said.
While many party leaders were seen crying and pleading with Pawar urging him to take back his resignation, Ajit was seen controlling the situation and even asking his sister Supriya Sule to not speak then. It was also Ajit who said that after speaking to Pawar’s wife Pratibha it is clear that the NCP chief was in no mood to withdraw his resignation, reports The Indian Express.
However, on Friday when Sharad Pawar revoked his resignation, Ajit was silent throughout the day. He was absent during the press conference the NCP Chief held to announce the withdrawal of his resignation. While most of the party’s senior leaders were present, Ajit was missing.
There were speculations about an internal rift within the party as Pawar tendered his resignation as NCP chief and Ajit skipped the press meet.
When asked by the media about Ajit’s absence, Pawar said that all the leaders did not need to be at the press conference. “All the party leaders who were part of the committee came to meet me today afternoon. This is my press conference. Nobody was invited to this press conference. Do all reporters attend all press conferences,” Pawar asked with a smirk on his face.
When quizzed about reports about a section of the NCP willing to join hands with the ruling BJP, Pawar had brushed aside the possibility. “This has no truth in it,” he said.
Pawar also said that he had informed Ajit about his resignation in advance. “I have to apologise to my senior colleagues. I had not told them but I had kept Ajit in the loop,” he said.
Later in the day, Ajit issued a statement welcoming his uncle’s decision to withdraw the resignation.
“Accepting the demand of party workers encourages me and all our party workers and the decision will boost unity within the party and of Maha Vikas Aghadi as well as opposition parties in the country,” he said, adding that the NCP is a family and it will be successful in the state as well as in the Centre under Sharad Pawar’s leadership.
"Let us all together take more responsibility, work together with more enthusiasm and strengthen the Nationalist Congress Party," he added.
Last month, there were speculations about Ajit along with MLAs supporting him joining hands with the BJP, though he denied any such move from his side.
Two weeks back, Sharad Pawar while addressing the NCP youth wing had hinted about an organisational overhaul in the party. It was perceived to be aimed at Ajit.
All eyes will now be on Ajit and his next move. He has announced that he will be will be travelling across the state in different districts including Pune, Satara, Osmanabad, Latur and Nashik between May 6 and 12 and both Ajit and Sharad Pawar are likely to be together at a program in Satara on Monday.
