Sharad Pawar picture abhi baaki hai

A day after Sharad Pawar resigned as NCP chief, a senior NCP leader on Wednesday suggested the party leadership be divided between Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar. Senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal suggested that Sule should head the party's national affairs while Ajit should manage the Maharashtra unit. A section of NCP loyal to Sharad Pawar has been floating the idea of Sule being made president or working president of the party.

This, even as senior NCP leaders met Sharad Pawar for consultations on the way ahead. If Sharad Pawar does not go back on his decision, then the panel appointed might look into the decision to appoint a president or working president. A sizeable section is not keen on Ajit heading the Maharashtra unit and may cite the 'one man, one post' theme to keep Ajit Pawar out of the leadership. Ajit Pawar is the opposition leader in the assembly. This won't be easy as Ajit Pawar has made it clear that he is keen to lead the state unit.

Sources said Ajit Pawar is preparing to tour the state and lead the NCP campaign for the 2024 assembly polls. This tour would mean the latter projecting himself as the NCP's CM candidate without saying so. Several banners have come up throughout the state declaring Ajit Pawar as the 'future CM'. The NCP leadership has been shying away from naming Ajit Pawar as the chief ministerial candidate.


Meanwhile, Praful Patel on Wednesday told at a press conference: "Pawar saheb would remain NCP's face and soul and he would always be at the helm of the NCP leadership". The uncertainty is also having an impact on the future of Maha Vikas Aghadi.