Amid speculation that his nephew and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar is considering an understanding with the BJP, Sharad Pawar, the founder and chief of the NCP since 1999, on Tuesday announced to step down from the post and to not contest any elections in future.
“After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back. After this prolonged political career, one must think about stopping somewhere. One must not be greedy. Hence, I have decided to step down as President of the NCP,” the 82-year-old veteran in Indian politics who is widely credited as the architect of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for bringing together the NCP, the Congress and ideologically opposite Shiv Sena in an unlikely coalition, after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, said in an announcement at the launch of the second edition of his political memoirs, ‘ Lok Maze Sangati’ (‘People Accompany Me’).
The move comes at a time when Mr. Pawar was seen as a leader who could bring together Opposition parties of different hues, interests and ideologies, ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls next year.
