Maharashtra: The bombshell that shook rank-and-file

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar dropped a bombshell on the Nationalist Congress Party's rank and file on Tuesday when he announced his decision to resign as the party's national president. The announcement came at the launch of the extended version of his political autobiography. All hell broke loose, as emotionally charged leaders and workers pleaded with the 82-year-old leader to withdraw his decision. All hell broke loose and emotionally charged leaders and workers ascended the dais where the octogenarian sat with his wife Pratibha Pawar, daughter Supriya Sule and other dignitaries, including two eminent editors, urging him to withdraw his decision. They sat there for about two hours, taking turns to convince the top boss.

An NCP worker pleads with Sharad Pawar to take back his decision, outside Y B Chavan Centre, on Tuesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Many broke down while attempting to speak in full view of the media. State president Jayant Patil couldn't control his tears as he spoke. MP Praful Patel, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh, Chhagan Bhujbal, Rajesh Tope, Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare, Ankush Kakde, Arun Gujrathi, Hasan Mushrif, Dilip Walse-Patil, Fauzia Khan and Narhari Zirwal represented the collective sentiment of the party. Two daughters of jailed leader Nawab Malik made an emotional appeal to Sharad Pawar, "You have supported us like a father during our father's absence and at bad times. "What will happen to us if you, too, are not there," they said, as tears rolled down their cheeks.

Also Read: MVA leaders express shock over Pawar's decision, say his presence is needed

‘The party needs you'

The common sentiment was that the country and the party needed Sharad Pawar, especially now that the NCP was regaining its strength and when he was leading the mission to unite an Opposition front against the BJP. The crowd vowed not to leave the hall until the decision was reversed. Later in the day, the young workers remained seated at the gates of Y B Chavan Centre, rejecting food and requests to leave.

The crowd also asked Ajit Pawar, who had taken it upon himself to bring some order to the chaotic hall, to talk to his uncle, but he said, "You can request him. Do you think he will allow me or Supriya to speak?" Supriya squatted on the dais with the workers. Ajit stopped her "using his authority as her elder brother" from speaking when the crowd demanded that she take the microphone.

Despite the outpouring of requests to withdraw his decision then and there, Sharad Pawar kept his composure, leaving the talking to his nephew. He whispered to his wife on a couple of occasions and shared a word with Jayant Patil and Ajit. About an hour later, he broke his silence and said that he is stepping down from the presidency of the party and that he is not going away from "you (the party workers)". However, his assurance didn't work.

Ajit tries to console

Ajit took the microphone a second time to make some revelations. He said the leaders and workers had misunderstood the boss. He gave the example of the Congress to explain that Sharad Pawar would be the real in-charge of the party, just like the Congress, which has Mallikarjun Kharge as the president, but the Gandhis still controlled the party.

"Saheb talked about making a change in leadership a couple of days ago. Kaki [aunt Pratibha] has told me he won't reconsider," he said, adding, "Don't be emotional. It was going to happen someday. In fact, he wanted to announce it on May 1, but postponed it because of the MVA's mega public rally. The rally wouldn't have gotten the media coverage it did if he had declared it then," said Ajit, confirming that his uncle had taken the decision in consultation with him, Supriya and Pratibha.

Ajit's Congress metaphor was strongly contested by a leader sitting in the crowd. "See the Congress's condition. It can't win elections because of wrong decisions. For us, Pawar saheb is everything. You must adhere to the party workers' feelings," he said.

A painful farewell, for the day

After much convincing that the senior leaders suggested by Sharad Pawar himself to select a new chief would respect the popular sentiment and urge the leader to stay in top leadership, the crowd allowed the boss to be driven out to his south Mumbai home for lunch and much-needed rest in view of health conditions.

However, even the drive home wasn't easy, as the workers blocked the cavalcade, throwing themselves on the ground. The NCP colleagues and police force cleared the way. Post afternoon, Pawar's Bhulabhai Road residence Silver Oak received a stream of NCP leaders, who came with a mission to have him withdraw the shocking decision, but in vain.

‘I will be with you till my last breath'

Since the formation of the NCP in 1999, I have had the privilege of being elected as president of the party, which today is in its 24th year. This entire journey of being in public life, which began on May 1, 1960, has continued unabated for the past 63 years, having served Maharashtra and India in various capacities during this period. I have three years left of my Rajya Sabha membership, during which I will focus on issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not taking any responsibility.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar with his wife Pratibha. Pic/Shadab Khan

After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back. Hence, I have decided to step down as president of the NCP. However, I intend to do more in the fields of education, agriculture, cooperation, sports and culture, among others. I will also pay close attention to issues related to the youth, students, workers, Dalits, tribals and other weaker sections of society.

As you know, I am involved in the activities of many charitable organisations. More than 4.5 lakh students study in various courses from Rayat Shikshan Sansthan (Satara); Vidya Pratishthan (Baramati); Maratha Mandir (Mumbai); Mahatma Gandhi Sarvodaya Sangh (Uruli Kanchan, Pune); Shivnagar Vidya Prasarak Mandal (Baramati); and Akhil Bharatiya Maratha Shikshan Parishad (Pune).

Besides working and guiding these institutions, I will continue to devote my time and guidance to the Nehru Centre, which promotes activities in the field of science in Mumbai; Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, which focuses on various issues of Maharashtra; Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya Sansthan, which promotes reading, culture, and preservation of books. I am in charge of many organisations like the Vasantdada Sugar Institute, which is doing research and expansion work in the sugarcane and sugar factories, for which I continue to guide and contribute towards its success. Hence, given the time I will have, I am going to pay more attention to this work from now on.

I cannot forget the support and love that Maharashtra and all of you have given me in the past six decades. It's time for a new generation to guide the party. I am recommending that a committee of NCP members be formed to decide on the election for the next president.

The committee should have the following members: Mr Praful Patel, Shri Sunil Tatkare, Shri KK Sharma, Shri PC Chacko, Mr Ajit Pawar, Shri Jayant Patil, Smt Supriya Sule, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Shri Dilip Walse Patil, Shri Anil Deshmukh, Mr Rajesh Tope, Mr Jitendra Awhad, Shri Hasan Mushrif, Mr Dhananjay Munde, Shri Jaydev Gaikwad and ex-officio members: Mrs Fauzia Khan, president, Nationalist Mahila Congress, Shri Dheeraj Sharma, president, Nationalist Youth Congress; Sonia Duhan, president, Nationalist Youth Congress and Nationalist Students' Congress.

This committee will continue to strive for the growth of the party organisation to take the ideology and goals of the party to the people and to serve the people, as they deem fit. My colleagues, I am not retiring from public life. ‘Constant travel has become an integral part of my life. I will continue attending public events and meetings. Whether I am in Pune, Mumbai, Baramati, Delhi or any other part of India, I will be available to all of you as usual. I will continue to work round the clock to solve people's problems. The love and trust of the people is my breath. There will be no separation from me or public retirement. I was with you; I am and always will be there till my last breath.

1958
Year Sharad Pawar started his political journey