Ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra, NCP founder Sharad Pawar has signaled his retirement from electoral politics. Pawar has said that now he will not contest elections, but will continue to look after the work of the party organization. That means he will continue to serve as the NCP (SP) chief.
“We have to stop somewhere,” said 84-year-old Sharad Pawar in Baramati on Tuesday. I don't want to contest anymore. Now new people should come forward. I have contested elections 14 times so far. Now I don't want power. I want to work for society. I will think whether to go to Rajya Sabha or not.
Sharad Pawar started his political career in 1960 Sharad Pawar started his political career from Congress in 1960. In 1960, Congress leader Keshavrao Jedhe died and the Baramati Lok Sabha seat fell vacant. In the by-election, the Peasants and Workers Party of India or PWP gave Sharad's elder brother Basantrao Pawar a ticket, while the Congress fielded Gulabrao Jedhe.
YB Chavan was the CM of Maharashtra at that time. He made the Baramati seat an issue of his credibility. Sharad writes in his book 'On My Own Terms' that my brother was a candidate against the Congress. Everyone was wondering what I would do? It was a very difficult situation.
Bhai Basantrao understood my problem. He called me and said, 'You are devoted to the Congress ideology. Don't hesitate to campaign against me. After this I dedicated my life to Congress election campaign and Gula Rao Jedh won. At the age of just 27, Sharad Pawar became an MLA from Baramati assembly constituency in 1967. Sharad Pawar has won 14 elections in the last 5 decades.
The nephew rebelled as soon as the daughter was made the party president After spending a long time in public life from May 1, 1960 to May 1, 2023, I now need to take a break. Therefore, I have decided to resign as the President of the Nationalist Congress Party.
Sharad Pawar said this at YB Chavan Center in Mumbai on May 2, 2023. As soon as Sharad Pawar said this, senior leaders like NCP state president Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awad became emotional. Leaders and workers sat on strike in YB Chavan Center itself.
Ajit Pawar came on stage and said that Sharad Pawar will reconsider his decision to resign. About a month later on 10 June, Sharad Pawar made daughter Supriya Sule and Praful Patel the new working presidents of the party. Ajit Pawar was upset with Sharad's decision.
Exactly 2 months later on 2 July 2023, Ajit Pawar revolted against his NCP party along with 8 MLAs. Ajit Pawar, who became the Deputy CM in the Shinde government, has staked his claim on the NCP. The NCP party formed 29 years ago is on the verge of collapse. Ajit Pawar claimed to have the support of more than 40 MLAs. The Election Commission said on 6 February 2024 that the Ajit Pawar faction is in fact the NCP.
After 10 hearings lasting 6 months, the party name and election symbol were given to the Gadi Ajit group. The panel then named NCP Sharad Chandra Pawar for Sharad Pawar's faction. Trumpet is the election symbol of this party. Thus, when the NCP party split into two, the leadership of both parties remained in the hands of the Pawar family.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
