Appointing Supriya Sule as NCP working president was suggested earlier, says Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar. File Pic

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar dismissed reports of his discontent regarding the appointment of Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as the party's working presidents, stating that he is happy with the party's decision, reported news agency ANI.

"Some media reports that I am unhappy that the party did not give any responsibility to me is wrong. Our committee was formed at that time when Sharad Pawar resigned. Two decisions are to be taken at that time. The first was to request Sharad Pawar to withdraw his resignation and the second was to appoint Supriya Sule as a working President and it was suggested when the committee was formed. But the rest of the committee members said to focus on persuading Sharad Pawar to retract his resignation. Being in Democracy and respecting the majority, I decided to focus on the resignation issue, because new leadership has to be strengthened and enhanced," Ajit Pawar said while talking to the reporters in Pune, reported ANI.

He further said that he is interested mainly in state politics.

"I am the Opposition leader of Maharashtra and party leader at the state level. My interests are at the state level and Supriya is doing well in national politics," he said.

He highlighted his resignation from national politics in 1991, contrasting it with Supriya Sule's presence in Delhi for several years. Ajit Pawar explained that he had chosen to join state politics due to his lack of interest in national politics.

Ajit Pawar also said, "I am interested mainly in Maharashtra politics, so I have always cleared that point in the party. For the past several years, Supriya is in Delhi. Praful Patel and I became MP at the same time in 1991, but as I was not interested in national politics, I resigned and joined state politics."

On the foundation day of the NCP on Saturday, the Pawar patriarch appointed Supriya Sule not only as the working president of the NCP but also put her in charge of Maharashtra, presently handled by his nephew Ajit Pawar.

Senior leader Praful Patel too will be the working president along with Sule.

Pawar made the announcement while addressing party workers at the 25th anniversary of the Foundation Day of the party, which he had formed in 1999 along with P A Sangma.

Party leader Ajit Pawar was also present at the occasion.

Sharad Pawar had last month resigned as the president of the party. He had subsequently withdrawn his decision after NCP's committee on May 5 passed a resolution rejecting his resignation and requested him to continue to lead the party that he founded.

(With inputs from ANI)