Storm over, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on tour of western Maharashtra from today

PUNE: NCP president Sharad Pawar will start a tour of western Maharashtra from Saturday where he will attend public functions and hold meetings with party workers.
Pawar had started a storm in Maharashtra's politics on May 2 when he announced his decision to step down as the party's president. He withdrew it on Friday.
NCP's senior leadership and hundreds of party workers who were in Mumbai had appealed to him to withdraw his decision. Pawar rolled it back on Friday evening. He will start attending public functions and party meetings in Baramati, Solapur and Satara from Saturday.
A senior NCP leader told TOI, on the condition of anonymity, that Pawar will leave for Baramati on Saturday where he will meet party workers.
"When he announced his decision of stepping down, several anxious calls were made from Baramati by the party workers. He could not speak to many of them, then. He will meet party workers now," the NCP leader said.
His next stop will be Solapur where he will attend public functions in Pandharpur and Sangola tehsils on Sunday and hold party meetings.
"During his media interaction in Mumbai, Pawar said that the party will elevate some district and state leaders. Hence, this tour holds importance. He will also discuss the farmers' issue with partymen," an NCP leader said.