Sharad Pawar decides not to quit; move to quell NCP revolt, say netas

MUMBAI: Four days after he resigned as NCP chief, Sharad Pawar altered his decision and decided to stay on at the helm of the party, declaring that he was responding to the sentiment of party workers and appeals made to him by several national leaders.
However, senior party leaders said Pawar had carried out the entire episode to quell rebellion within the party and to put a stop to rumourmongering about whether Ajit Pawar and other NCP netas would leave and join the BJP.
Pawar’s U­turn came after the committee set up by him for election of the new NCP president decided, earlier in the day, that it was not going to accept his resignation and appealed to him to continue as NCP chief. Interestingly, Ajit Pawar was not present at the press briefing at which Pawar announced the reversal of his move to quit. On Friday evening, Ajit said Pawar’s decision to withdraw his resignation would energise party workers and strengthen the MVA.

By ‘quitting’, Pawar managed to put off rebellion: NCP neta
An NCP ex-minister said notwithstanding Pawar’s categorical statement that there was no substance to speculation that Ajit was going to quit the party, it was quite clear in political circles that a section of NCP legislators led by Ajit were in the process of raising a banner of revolt.
“Rebellion has been on the cards in the NCP, and when it will take place is a question of time. When Pawar quit, the entire rank and file of the party rallied around him. In fact, his decision to quit and withdraw the resignation in four days strengthened the organisation at all levels. In our opinion, Pawar has succeeded in quelling the rebellion and ending rumours,” the leader said.

Ajit Pawar himself had dismissed speculation that he was going to leave the NCP. On Friday evening, Ajit said Pawar’s decision to withdraw his resignation would energise party workers and strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Sharad Pawar said on Friday that there must be a succession plan for any post or responsibility in the organisation.
“In future, I will focus on making organisational changes in the party, assigning new responsibilities, creating new leadership,” he said.
Another NCP leader said opposition unity at the national level in view of the 2024 general elections was on top of Sharad Pawar’s agenda and was one of the factors which influenced his decision to reverse his resignation move. NCP leaders felt if Pawar was not NCP chief, his importance in the task of bringing about opposition unity would be reduced.
Senior party leaders believe the fervent appeals made by leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury played a major role in Pawar’s rethink.