Sharad Pawar News Live: Sharad Pawar needs two-three days to think over his decision of stepping down as NCP chief, Ajit Pawar says

Emotions ran high after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday suddenly announced his decision to quit the top post as stunned workers protested -- one of them even threatened to kill himself -- while leaders broke down amid chorus that the octogenarian leader must revisit his move. Pawar sprang a surprise by announcing his decision to quit as president of the party he founded and headed since 1999 when he left the Congress to chart his own political course. The former Union minister made the announcement during the launch of a revised version of his autobiography at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan in south Mumbai. The announcement was instantly greeted with emotion-filled protests by party workers and leaders who asked the veteran parliamentarian to rescind the decision. (PTI)

Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra on Tuesday expressed shock over Sharad Pawar's decision to resign as NCP chief, and said his guidance was needed at this juncture. Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the unlikely alliance of his Nationalist Congress Party, Congress and their then ideological foe Shiv Sena in 2019. Senior state Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said Pawar should not step aside when a "new freedom struggle" is going on. (PTI)

As Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he had decided to step down as the NCP chief, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called him the "soul of Maharashtra politics" and likened his decision to the 'resignation' of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Taking to Twitter, Raut said, "Fed up by dirty Politics and allegations, Shivsena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray too had resigned as the Shivsena Pramukh. History seems to have repeated itself... But owing to the love of Shivsainiks he had to withdraw his decision...Like Balasaheb , Pawar Saheb too is the soul of the State's politics". (PTI)

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said Sharad Pawar's decision to resign as NCP chief was the party's internal matter. He said, “Pawar Sahib's decision is NCP's internal matter. It is his personal decision. He is a senior leader and he has decided something. Brainstorming over several issues is going on within his party. So, it will not be right for us to react to this. We will keep an eye on the situation and react after a day or two”.

Workers across the country are not agreeing with this decision of Sharad Pawar. We have decided that we will continue to make efforts to change his mind. It is our decision that he will remain the National President of NCP till his last breath, NCP leader Anil Bhaidas Patil said.

Following the announcement by party chief Sharad Pawar to resign, NCP members are protesting outside the YB Chavan Center in Mumbai.

Congress leader Tariq Anwar said Sharad Pawar was a veteran politician. Only he or his family can disclose the circumstances surrounding his decision. Ajit Pawar, his nephew, stated that they will internally deliberate on the subsequent actions to be taken.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he was stepping down as party chief, and also said that he has formed a panel to name his successor.

He announced a committee comprising top leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, KK Sharma, PC Chacko, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse-Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Dr Jitendra Awhad, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, and Jaydev Gaikwad.

Other ex-officio members are — NCP Mahila Congress President Fauzia Khan, NCP Youth Congress President Dheeraj Sharma NCP Student Congress President Sonia Duhan, which will decide on the new party president's selection. (IANS)

Senior NCP leader Paful Patel urges party workers to stay calm. "We are all members of Sharad Pawar's family. We all have grown under his patronage. We appeal you all to accept the decisions that have been made."

"Let us all work together, but accept my resignation," says Sharad Pawar to party workers opposing his resignation

I am with you, but not as NCP chief: Sharad Pawar to party workers opposing his resignation

NCP leader Jayant Patil breaks down on stage after Pawar announces his resignation as the party chief.

Pawar announced his retirement during the release of his autobiography, "Lok Majhe Sangaayi - Political Autobiography". However, the Rajya Sabha member with three more years to go, assured that he would remain active in public life through social-politics, as in the past over 55 years.

Sharad Pawar will abide by decision of NCP committee on his resignation: Ajit Pawar

82-year-old Sharad Pawar resigned as president of NCP, the party which he set up in 1999. Pawar has set up a committee comprising Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, KK Sharma, PC Chako, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Rajesh Tope, Jeetendravawhad, Hasan Mushriff, Dhananjay Munde and others to decide on the new president. No time frame has been fixed for the election of new president.

Veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former union minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced his resignation from the post of party chief.

An eight-year-old girl was killed in a road accident on Monday evening near the Avadhootwadi on Dindori Road in Panchavati. Identified as Zoya Salim Sheikh (8), the victim was crossing the road along with her brother when a speeding pick-up vehicle knocked her down. The girl died on the spot. Panchavati police said there is a slum along the road where the accident too place. Angry locals ransacked the vehicle after which the police had to call Rapid Action Force to control the situation. The pick-up driver has been booked for causing death due to negligence. He is currently admitted at the civil hospital as he was roughed up by the locals.

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Arun Gandhi passed away at Kolhapur in Maharashtra on Tuesday after brief illness. The funeral of the 89-year-old author and socio-political activist will be held at Kolhapur later today, his son Tushar Gandhi. Born to Manilal Gandhi and Sushila Mashruwala in Durban on April 14, 1934, Arun Gandhi followed in the footsteps of his grandfather as an activist.

There is no problem in Mumbai or anywhere in the country. He (Salman Khan) has been given full security. I believe Mumbai is the safest city: Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Salman Khan's death threat

Mumbai-Pune was among the top 10 routes across India witnessing a spurt in traffic for the extended weekend till May 1, revealed a study by redBus, an online bus ticketing platform. Over 3,500 private bus operators and 17 state road transport corporations offered a total of over 52,000 bus services across India. As many as 80 lakh passengers were estimated to have travelled by bus over the long weekend, the study showed. redBus study observed a 20% increase in reservations during the long weekend compared to the previous year. “The other bus routes in demand were Delhi–Manali, Guwahati-Tezpur and Dibrugarh–Guwahati, among others,” the study stated.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde has said that the BMC’s coastal road project will start by the end of this year as work was being carried out on a war-footing. Shinde again reiterated that Mumbai will become pothole-free in two years as cement concrete (CC) roads were being constructed. Shinde’s statement comes after CC road works faced criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP leaders. With new companies which bagged CC contracts failing to start work, the BMC imposed a penalty of Rs 16 crore on three of the five companies.

CM Eknath Shinde laid out his vision for the Marine Drive promenade during his visit there on Monday.“Tourists from all over the world come to Mumbai. Especially, the Marine Drive area is a must-visit for all tourists. The BMC administration must provide various facilities of international standards to these tourists as well as to the citizens of Mumbai visiting for leisure. For the convenience of citizens and tourists, a toilet of excellent quality should be constructed at every one kilometre,” said Shinde.