Sharad Pawar Steps Down As NCP Chief, Says `It`s Necessary To Take A Step Back`

Sharad Pawar announced that he has stepped down as the president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

New Delhi: National Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced that he has decided to step down as the party president. At a book launch of his autobiography at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan here, Pawar declared his decision which was opposed by NCP workers and leaders. “I have chosen to quit as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party,” he said. Pawar also declared a panel of senior party leaders to plan a future course of action. Party workers and leaders, however, asked Pawar to revoke his decision. They vowed not to leave the venue until he changed his decision.

A four-time Maharashtra chief minister, who served as Union Defence and Agriculture minister, Pawar was instrumental in stitching together an unlikely coalition of the NCP, Congress and then ideologically opposite Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

However, the Rajya Sabha member with three more years to go, assured that he would remain active in public life through social-politics, as in the past over 55 years.

Sharad Pawar's Tenure As NCP President

Pawar has helmed the party since its inception in 1999 ending a tenure of 24 years. "After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back, Pawar said while quitting the president post. He also leads Maha Vikas Aghadi, a regional political alliance based in Maharashtra.

Pawar hails from Baramati of Maharashtra. He is the head of the Pawar Family a powerful political family and a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics. Other politicians from the family include his daughter Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar his nephew, Rohit Rajendra Pawar a nephew’s son and other members of his extended family.