Sharad Pawar celebrates 75th birthday with NCP workers

MUMBAI: Former Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar today celebrated his 75th birthday here with party workers and leaders.

Pawar was at Y B Chavan Pratisthan since 9 AM today where party workers from different parts of Maharashtra flocked to extend their greetings to him.

Pawar's daughter and Baramati Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule, former Assembly Speaker Dilip Walse Patil, State NCP Chief Sunil Tatkare, NCP group leader in the Assembly, Jayant Patil were present at the meeting.

Prominent among those who wished Pawar were Chairman of Legislative Council Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare, Sikkim Governor Srinivas Patil, Congress leader Manikrao Thakre, Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe and BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar.

Walse Patil said Pawar's 75th birthday was unlike the celebration every year.

"This is a milestone in his chequered life and the party wanted to celebrate it with workers coming from all over the state," he said adding that over 5,000 workers came over to wish their leader from 9 AM till 12.45 PM.

Pawar sat on the dias of the Pratishthan auditorium for over three hours accepting wishes along with bouquets, greeting cards, shawls. Some even gifted him hockey sticks and balls.