Sharad Pawar, the veteran politician and former Union minister, has announced his decision to step down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after leading the party for 24 years. He has recommended a committee to oversee the election of his successor within six months.
Sharad Pawar’s announcement came amid speculation over a rift within the NCP and his nephew Ajit Pawar’s possible alliance with the BJP. Ajit Pawar, who is the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and a senior leader of the NCP, had recently said that he could become the chief minister now if he wanted to. He had also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their leadership.
Sharad Pawar, however, denied any differences with his nephew and said that he had full faith in him. He also dismissed any possibility of Ajit Pawar joining hands with the BJP and said that the NCP was firmly committed to its alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Congress in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar said that he had decided to quit as the NCP president to make way for the younger generation and to strengthen the party’s internal democracy. He said that he would continue to guide and support the party as its founder and mentor. He also expressed confidence that the NCP would emerge stronger under the new leadership.
Sharad Pawar is one of the most influential and respected politicians in India. He has served as the chief minister of Maharashtra four times and as a Union minister in various portfolios. He founded the NCP in 1999 after breaking away from the Congress over Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin issue. He has played a key role in forming several coalition governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar’s resignation as the NCP president has triggered speculation over who will succeed him and what will be his nephew Ajit Pawar’s next move. The NCP is currently ruling Maharashtra along with the Shiv Sena and the Congress under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. The BJP, which is the main opposition party in the state, has been trying to woo Ajit Pawar and other disgruntled leaders from the ruling alliance. The political scenario in Maharashtra is likely to witness some twists and turns in the coming days.
