NCP chief Sharad Pawar takes back his resgination, says will remain party president

Three days after announcing that he was stepping down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), veteran leader Sharad Pawar Friday withdrew his decision after a 18-member committee of senior party leaders, unanimously rejected his resignation. Pawar at a press conference announced his decision. His daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil and senior party leader Praful Patel were among those present at the press meet. Incidentally, Pawar’s nephew and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar was absent. NCP leader Praful Patel had briefed the media about the committee’s decision to reject Mr. Pawar’s decision. Workers who had gathered outside the NCP headquarters since early morning celebrated the committee’s decision by bursting crackers and chanting slogans.