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MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule is emerging as the chief contender for leading the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The general view in NCP is that Ajit Pawar should concentrate on state political matters (as against party-organisational ones), with he getting picked as consensus candidate for the CM’s post if the MVA secures a majority in next year’s assembly polls.
Initially during Wednesday’s deliberations at the YB Chavan Centre here, both Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel and Supriya Sule were in the zone of consideration as successors. However, Patel ruled himself out of the race.
Interestingly, while most NCP members attended Wednesday’s meeting, and Sharad Pawar too was present at the Centre in order to listen to views of his supporters, state NCP chief Jayant Patil, believed to be among the frontrunners for the top post, was conspicuous by his absence. Praful Patel defended his absence, saying Patil was in a scheduled meeting of a sugar cooperative society in Pune. But Patil himself said he was not invited for the YB Chavan Centre meeting.
In a related development, Sharad Pawar said the meeting of the committee he has set up for selection of the new NCP chief should be held on May 5 instead of May 6 and that he will abide by its decision. “In my opinion, before taking such a big decision to step down from the NCP president’s post, I should’ve consulted senior party members. Had I consulted them earlier, they would have opposed the proposal,” he said.
Meanwhile, an NCP member said this is the most appropriate time to entrust the NCP leadership to Sule as the country will soon be in poll mode for 2024, nationally and in the state. On Ajit Pawar being picked for the CM’s post in the event the MVA gets a majority, an NCP member said the party was aware of MPCC Nana Patole’s opinion that the party which gets the most seats should get the top post.
Praful Patel said there was no formal meeting of the committee constituted to select the new NCP chief. Instead, party workers from across the state had come to Mumbai and urged Pawar to reconsider his move.
Congress has taken the view that Pawar resigned to clip the wings of Ajit Pawar. “We feel that since Ajit was in the process of taking a group of NCP legislators with him and support the BJP-led government, Sharad Pawar resigned,” a Congress member said. Ajit has denied he was planning to leave NCP.
Initially during Wednesday’s deliberations at the YB Chavan Centre here, both Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel and Supriya Sule were in the zone of consideration as successors. However, Patel ruled himself out of the race.
Interestingly, while most NCP members attended Wednesday’s meeting, and Sharad Pawar too was present at the Centre in order to listen to views of his supporters, state NCP chief Jayant Patil, believed to be among the frontrunners for the top post, was conspicuous by his absence. Praful Patel defended his absence, saying Patil was in a scheduled meeting of a sugar cooperative society in Pune. But Patil himself said he was not invited for the YB Chavan Centre meeting.
In a related development, Sharad Pawar said the meeting of the committee he has set up for selection of the new NCP chief should be held on May 5 instead of May 6 and that he will abide by its decision. “In my opinion, before taking such a big decision to step down from the NCP president’s post, I should’ve consulted senior party members. Had I consulted them earlier, they would have opposed the proposal,” he said.
Meanwhile, an NCP member said this is the most appropriate time to entrust the NCP leadership to Sule as the country will soon be in poll mode for 2024, nationally and in the state. On Ajit Pawar being picked for the CM’s post in the event the MVA gets a majority, an NCP member said the party was aware of MPCC Nana Patole’s opinion that the party which gets the most seats should get the top post.
Praful Patel said there was no formal meeting of the committee constituted to select the new NCP chief. Instead, party workers from across the state had come to Mumbai and urged Pawar to reconsider his move.
Congress has taken the view that Pawar resigned to clip the wings of Ajit Pawar. “We feel that since Ajit was in the process of taking a group of NCP legislators with him and support the BJP-led government, Sharad Pawar resigned,” a Congress member said. Ajit has denied he was planning to leave NCP.
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