Sharad Pawar quits as NCP chief even as party workers tearfully react

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in fact shocked his party workers today with the bombshell decision to step down as the party chief.

‘I am with you, but not as NCP chief’ Pawar told his tearful party workers who wanted him to reverse his decision to leave the top job of the party he founded in 1999.

Pawar’s quitting has fueled speculations that he was sacrificing to stop a costly split in the party.

NCP is now thick with speculations about who will succeed Pawar in his shoes just as a section of the party is rumoured to be veering towards the BJP.

The four-time Maharashtra chief minister announced the quitting at the launch of his autobiography in Mumbai in the presence of his nephew Ajit Pawar.

Pawar put in place a panel of senior party leaders to lead the party in his absence at the helm.

‘I cannot forget that Maharashtra and all of you have given me strong support and love in the last six decades. It's time for a new generation to guide the party and the direction it intends to take. I am recommending that a committee of NCP members should be formed to decide on the election of the vacancy in the president's post,’ Mr Pawar was quoted as saying.

Party workers and leaders insisted Pawar withdraw the decision, before they threatened to leave the venue.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel said Sharad Pawar announced the decision without taking anyone into confidence.

Ajit Pawar, who is rumoured to be showing inclination towards the BJP, told tearful party workers that Pawar previously put off announcing resignation on May 1, because of the MVA rally in Mumbai.

‘Pawar Saheb himself had said about the necessity of change in guard a few days back. We should see his decision in the light of his age and health also. Everyone has to take a decision according to time, Pawar Saheb has taken a decision, and he won't take it back’ Ajit Pawar reportedly said.

Ajit Pawar, nephew of Pawar, has long been in the centre of speculations of switching sides to the BJP, causing a split in the party.

However, Ajit himself allayed all misgivings amid party workers dismissing speculations.

However, the Shiv Sena faction of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde earlier expressed displeasure over Ajit Pawar joining the BJP with a group of NCP leaders.