Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Saturday said that he was ready to quit the party and keep away from its affairs permanently if Ajit Pawar and the latter's faction believe a coterie including the Mumbra-Kalwa MLA and Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil were hovering around Sharad Pawar, reported the PTI.

Talking to reporters while waiting with NCP supporters to welcome Sharad Pawar who was on his way to a rally in Yeola in Nashik, Jitendra Awhad said that he would also get Patil to quit the party if the Ajit Pawar faction believes they had to leave because of such a group around the party founder.