Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar firm on decision to step down, says Jayant Patil

Opening up for the first time on the resignation issue Sharad Pawar offered Nationalist Congress Party NCP workers some relief on Thursday when he told them that their sentiments would not be ignored while taking a decision on the partyrsquos leadershipHe asked workers to wait for a day or two but he did not commit to revoking his resignation Party leaders meanwhile said a compromise formula of having a working president to assist the national chief Pawar was being worked outVeteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre on Thursday PicsSayyed Sameer AbediPawar climbed down the YB Chavan Centre to meet workers who have been sitting outside since Tuesday to demand his continuation Some workers appealed to him to be the president and guide the party instead of relinquishing the responsibility They suggested that the working president could be appointed to share his workload Pawar gave a patient listening before he spoke publicly after two daysAlso read Maharashtra lsquoThose crying now had one foot in BJPrsquoldquoI respect your sentiments I took the decision to strengthen the partyrsquos future leadership I know such a decision should have been taken after consulting fellow party leaders But I knew that my decision would be opposed I have explained to you the purpose of my decisionrdquo he said as the workers held their breath and interrupted him He said he was scheduled to meet leaders from other states on FridayNCP workers and supporters sit outside the centre hoping the senior leader will revoke his decision to step down as president of the partyldquoThe discussion between him and state leaders took place yesterday and today Your sentiments will not be ignored and you wonrsquot need to sit here after two daysrdquo he said amid loud cheersThe selection committee that was formed by Pawar himself in his resignation speech on Tuesday is expected to meet on Friday to take a final call on the leadership The majority of the committee wants Pawar to continue as the president Earlier in the day state NCP President Jayant Patil confirmed to media persons that the selection committee would meet on Friday but refused to pinpoint his preference because ldquohe didnrsquot want the meeting to be prejudicedrdquo However he said Pawar was firm on his decision despite repeated requests for reconsideration ldquoI have conveyed the message of party leaders and workers who want Pawar to take back his decision at least for the next 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly electionsrdquo he saidAccording to Pawar the selection committee should have the members such as Praful Patel Sunil Tatkare K K Sharma P C Chacko Ajit Pawar Jayant Patil Supriya Sule Chhagan Bhujbal Dilip Walse Patil Anil Deshmukh Rajesh Tope Jitendra Awhad Hasan Mushrif Dhananjay Munde Jaydev Gaikwad Fauzia Khan president Nationalist Mahila Congress Dheeraj Sharma president Nationalist Youth Congress and Sonia Duhan president Nationalist Youth Congress and Nationalist Studentsrsquo CongressldquoThis committee will decide on the presidentrsquos selection It 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 fitrdquo Pawar had said while drawing the curtains on his 63year organisational role63Length of Sharad Pawars career in years