February 25, 2026

Sharad Pawar's Resignation Is Timed To Perfection

By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2023-05-04 07:25:14

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Sharad Pawar's resignation, like everything else he does, has been timed to perfection. The NCP, identified solely with the old warhorse (although other leaders have risen in the ranks), was going through a turbulent phase with the buzz that despite denials, it was just a matter of days or months before Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar would leave the party with his supporters to join the BJP. Pawar's resignation has brought the party together with all satraps asking him to withdraw the resignation and continue as the party president. Pawar also served a masterstroke by not naming his successor but asking the party to form a panel to choose one. This also served to bring the party together.

As of now, it seems that despite the requests for withdrawing his resignation, Sharad Pawar is not likely to yield. With vice-president Praful Patel withdrawing out of the race to be the president, all eyes are now on Pawar's daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule. Party leaders are also veering towards the view that if Pawar does not withdraw his resignation, Sule should be chosen president. The party is working out a formula that would appease Ajit Pawar as Sule is likely to have a national role and leave the state to him. But that is easier said than done as Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule have a tight grip on party affairs and even if Ajit Pawar is handed charge of the state, he will have little independence to run the unit as he desires.

Hence, it remains to be seen whether what Pawar desires (to keep the party together) by resigning and by getting the party to assign national role for Supriya Sule and state role for Ajit Pawar will work. Sharad Pawar is a canny politician and he wants to avoid a split in the party. But if Ajit Pawar still feels that this is just eyewash and the real power will still remain with Sharad Pawar and his daughter, he might not accept it and walk out of the party.