Suspense Continues : Sharad Pawar Seeks More Time To Re-Think ; Emotional Party Committee Unanimously Rejects Resignation

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar has sought more time to reconsider his decision to step down as party chief, senior NCP leader and party Vice- president Praful Patel said on Friday.

Patel and senior party leaders met Pawar at his Silver Oak residence in south Mumbai after a committee formed to choose his successor rejected his decision to step down as NCP chief.

We requested (Sharad) Pawar saheb to consider the NCP committee’s resolution (which rejected his decision of stepping down as party chief). He (Pawar) has asked for more time and will convey his decision, Patel said.

The committee has unanimously passed a resolution.

It unanimously rejects his decision to step down and urges him to continue as party president, Patel said after a meeting of the committee.

Pawar himself had set up the committee, including Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, after he announced on May 2 that he would be resigning as NCP chief.

We will meet Pawar saheb with this resolution and request him to reconsider his decision, Patel, who is also the vice president and convenor of the committee, told the media after the meeting.

Patel said the party and the country needs a leader like Pawar.

Pawar saheb is a respected leader in the country. There was a strong response against Pawar’s decision. The emotions cannot be ignored, Patel said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin Tweeted ,

The panel requested Sharad Pawar not to resign at the moment, he should stay till the Parliament elections. the committee also passed a resolution stating that Sharad Pawar will be continuing for the party chief post. He might have taken this decision to give a chance to new faces but we have requested him to stay on his post,  NCP leader Jayant Patil on party’s Core Committee meeting told ANI