Maharashtra: Amid spate of resignations, NCP’s core to meet this week

The impasse over the Nationalist Congress Party boss Sharad Pawar's resignation is expected to reach a head by the weekend. The leader has asked the party's core committee to meet in the next two days to decide on his replacement, even as most party members want him to continue as the chief.

A series of resignations followed the party boss's decision to step down. Many district chiefs and state/national general secretaries quit, demanding Pawar's return to the saddle. Developments unfolded behind the curtains as party workers built pressure on the Pawars to keep the top post in the family. Pawar's MP daughter Supriya emerged as one of the hot favourites, followed by her cousin Ajit, who has shown little interest in the position.

Sharad Pawar daughter Supriya emerged as a hot favourite for the top post, followed by nephew Ajit, who has shown little interest in the position. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Considering a stream of visitors and the strong sentiment of party workers, Pawar senior met as many people as he could on Wednesday. One of the visitors said the leader had asked the committee, comprising the people he had named in his speech on Tuesday, to meet on May 5 instead of May 6, to settle the matter, and told them that he would respect the committee's decision.

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Pawar's long-time associate and party's national vice-president, Praful Patel, was also tipped to take over from the octogenarian, but he said he was not in the running for the top post. He also said no decision was taken yet and added that the leaders from across the country made another attempt to urge Pawar to reconsider. He, however, did not confirm the May 5 meeting.

"If the situation arises, the committee will decide on Sharad Pawar's successor and the decision will be unanimous. He [Pawar] sought time to think over his decision after the party requested him to reconsider, and till the final decision is arrived at, there is no question of deliberating on his successor," Patel said, while officially addressing the media at YB Chavan Centre. "This is just the second day... wait for another day," Patel told the anxious reporters, "We will tell you more tomorrow."

Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal said he had suggested making Supriya in-charge of national affairs, and give Ajit responsibility of the state. Pic/Atul Kamble

Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal said he had suggested making Supriya in-charge of national affairs, and gave Ajit responsibility of the state, but Patel said it was Bhujbal's personal opinion and no name had been finalised. Patel appealed to leaders and workers to not resign from the party, because, "seniors are working to make your wish come true. We all will convince Pawar saheb..."

Opinion was split over Pawar's intention to revoke his resignation and approve the idea of appointing the working president(s) to assist him. "Saheb should run the party staying at home. The working president will follow his directives and work on the ground," said a leader.

According to information shared by some leaders, Pawar told them that he should have taken the party leaders into confidence before announcing the decision, but then, he knew that the consultation would mean a flat rejection. So, he surprised everyone by calling it quits at the book launch, an event where such an act was least expected.