A committee set up to select the new leader of the Nationalist Congress Party has dismissed the decision by current party president Sharad Pawar to step down, according to Praful Patel, a senior leader in the party.
”The comittee has unanimously passed a resolution. It unanimously rejects his plan to resign and wants him to stay on as party president,” Patel said following the committee meeting.
The committee, which was established by Pawar himself, includes Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, former Union minister Parful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, after he announced on 2 May that he would be resigning as NCP chief.
“We will meet Pawar saheb with this resolution and request him to reconsider his decision,” Patel said, adding that Pawar’s leadership is needed by the party and the country.
“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.
As the meeting took place, NCP workers wearing “I am with saheb” caps demanded that Pawar reconsider his decision.
