Page 19 - Sharad Pawar

Criticism of Uddhav in Sharad Pawar's book is wrong information: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday termed the criticism of Uddhav Thackeray in Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar's autobiography wrong information and downplayed it by claiming books are read for two days and then put into libraries. He also said Thackeray would soon respond to what has been written about him in the book. In his revised autobiography Lok Majhe Sangati', which focuses on events post-2015 and was released on Tuesday, Pawar wrote it was difficult to fathom why Thackeray as chief minister chose to visit Mantralaya, the state secretariat in south Mumbai, only twice during the coronavirus pandemic. This is wrong information. He (Thackeray) was regularly going to office. His visits (to Mantralaya) reduced during coronavirus pandemic because there was a central government directive to work from home, Raut said, adding that the prime minister, Union ministers and other chief ministers too were not going to office during the pandemic. In his book, .

Decision to quit as chief for party's future; will take final call: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said his decision to step down from the post was taken for the future of the party and to create a new leadership. Speaking outside the Y B Chavan Centre in the city, where his supporters have been camping to demand his continuation as the party chief, Pawar said he would take a final decision in the next couple of days and the sentiments of party workers will not be ignored. "I respect your sentiments. I should have discussed my plans with all of you and taken you into confidence. But I know you wouldn't have allowed me to take the decision (of stepping down as party chief)," the former Union minister told his supporters. He said some party colleagues from outside Maharashtra will meet him on Friday to discuss the issue. "I will take a final decision in one or two days," he said. As emotions ran high among his supporters, Pawar tried to pacify them outside the YB Chavan Centre. The party cadres gathered at the p

Developments in NCP won't impact MVA, says Uddhav after Pawar steps down

Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a faction of the Shiv Sena, on Thursday expressed confidence that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar's decision to step down as the party chief will not dent the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Addressing a press conference here, the former Maharashtra chief minister said he will not do anything that hurt the opposition's unity. Thackeray also said he was not opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was against dictatorship. "The developments in NCP won't dent the MVA," Thackeray said. He, however, declined to comment on Pawar's decision to step down as the party chief. Pawar on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as the NCP president, which has jolted his party and the opposition alliance. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), NCP and Congress are partners in the MVA. The government headed by this alliance ruled Maharashtra from November 2019 to June 2022.

NCP panel set up by Pawar to decide on next party chief to meet on May 5

A committee formed by Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar to decide on his successor will meet on Friday, a senior NCP leader said on Thursday. The meeting will take place at 11 am at the party office in south Mumbai, the leader said. The committee members include Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, his nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, among others. Pawar on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by saying he is stepping down as chief of the NCP which he founded and helmed since 1999, but not retiring from public life. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin spoke to Sule over phone to enquire about developments in the NCP after Sharad Pawar's announcement to quit as its chief, according to party sources. Political circles are abuzz with speculation on whether the next NCP president will be from the Pawar family - daughter Supriya Sule or nephew Ajit Pawar - or any other party leader. NCP workers and party leaders have demanded

Is Pawar's exit from NCP a precursor to new power equations in Maharashtra?

Some NCP leaders say Pawar's decision to step down from the presidentship of the party is a precursor to new power equations in Maharashtra

Politician Sharad Pawar quits as NCP chief, then agrees to 'rethink'

Pawar's move comes on the heels of two key developments. Last month, the Election Commission stripped the NCP of its status as a 'national party'

After morning resignation, Sharad Pawar agrees to 'rethink' in evening

Ajit Pawar said that the party work will continue as usual and nobody's resignation shall be accepted, putting the lid on the political storm that rocked national politics since noon on Tuesday

Here's a look at Sharad Pawar's eventful journey in Indian politics

Sharad Pawar's dramatic announcement to quit as president of NCP, the party he founded 24 years ago, has put the focus on the over five decade-long career of the 82-year-old veteran in Indian politics. From student politics to becoming Maharasthra's chief minister four times, and a decade-long stint as Union minister, Pawar has been a master at political moves. Pawar began his political journey in 1958 when he joined Youth Congress four years later became Pune district Youth Congress president. He won the Assembly election in 1967 from his home turf Baramati constituency and since then has been a member of either the state legislature or Parliament. In 1978, Pawar, then 38, became the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government was in power for two years. In 1988, Pawar became the chief minister of Maharashtra for the second time. In 1990, he became chief minister of for the third time. In 1991, Pawar became the defence minister in th

Pawar must have plan for future, Cong's Tariq says after his resignation

Sharad Pawar must have a plan for the future, his former associate and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar said on Tuesday soon after the Maratha strongman announced his resignation as Nationalist Congress Party chief. Anwar, who was a co-founder of the Nationalist Congress Party along with Pawar, said the veteran leader does not take any decision without thinking it through. Springing a surprise, Pawar on Tuesday said he was stepping down as the chief of NCP, the political outfit he founded and helmed since 1999. Pawar made the announcement at the launch of a revised version of his autobiography. His announcement was met with protests by party workers and leaders who asked the octogenarian leader to rescind the decision. Asked about Pawar's decision, Anwar told PTI that this is his "personal decision" and every politician has a right to take his own decision. "What the internal matter is we do not know but, as far as I know Sharad Pawar, he does not take any decision without think

Pawar steps down as NCP chief, forms panel to decide on future action

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he has decided to step down as the party chief. Speaking at a book launch of his autobiography at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan here, Pawar announced his decision which was met with protests by NCP workers and leaders. I have decided to step down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party, he said. Pawar also announced a panel of senior party leaders to draw a future course of action. Party workers and leaders, however, demanded that Pawar withdraw his decision. They threatened not to leave the venue unless he rescind his decision. A four-time Maharashtra chief minister, who served as Union Defence and Agriculture minister, Pawar was instrumental in stitching together an unlikely coalition of the NCP, Congress and then ideologically opposite Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Need to rise above differences in order to strengthen country: Sharad Pawar

There is a different kind of situation prevailing in the country, which is a cause of concern to many, and there is need to rise above political ideologies to strengthen the nation and end hatred, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Friday. Addressing his party's minority department meeting in Delhi, Pawar said brotherhood and humanity are needed in society to overcome problems faced by it. "Today there is a different kind of situation prevailing in the country, which is a cause of concern to many. When there is a problem, lot of hard work is needed to find a solution. If we don't strengthen brotherhood and humanity in society, the problem will not be resolved," Pawar asserted. "We may have differences and have different political ideologies. We may belong to different religions and castes but we will have to work together to end hatred and create an atmosphere of brotherhood," the former Union minister said.

Parkash Singh Badal cremated at ancestral village; leaders pay respects

Parkash Singh Badal was cremated on Thursday at his ancestral village in Punjab's Muktsar district with thousands of mourners and leaders across the political spectrum paying their last respects to the Akali stalwart and five-time chief minister. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lit the pyre at the funeral held with full state honours. Badal's mortal remains were taken to the family's farmland around a kilometer from the residence on a flower-decked tractor-trolley with his son Sukhbir Singh Badal and other family members standing with folded hands as the vehicle moved past mourners on the route. Leaders cutting across party lines, including BJP president J P Nadda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, visited Badal village to pay their last respects. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, senior BJP leader Tarun Chugh, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and former union minister Praful Patel paid homage

Ajit Pawar leads race in 'Future CM' banners, Sharad Pawar not enthused

On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar's banners-posters as 'Future CM' popped up in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and all the way in Nagpur

Will take firm stand if anyone attempts to break NCP, says Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said NCP would have to act firmly if anyone is strategising to break the party, the comments coming against the backdrop of a buzz about his nephew Ajit Pawar's next political move. Notably, amid rumours that he is cosying up with the ruling BJP, Ajit Pawar on Friday said he would "100 per cent like to be the chief minister" of Maharashtra and that the NCP can stake a claim to the post of the CM "now also" instead of waiting for 2024 when Assembly polls are due in the state. Tomorrow if anyone is attempting to break the party (NCP) then it is their strategy. If we have to take any stand, then we have to do it firmly. "It is improper to talk about this today because we have not discussed this (issue), Sharad Pawar said without elaborating. He was responding to a question on rumoured attempts to break away Ajit Pawar from NCP in the event of 16 MLAs of Shiv Sena, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, are disqualified by the ..

Adani meets Sharad Pawar amid JPC probe demand into Hindenburg row

Industrialist Gautam Adani met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence here on Thursday amid the Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue. The meeting, held at Pawar's residence Silver Oak in south Mumbai this morning, lasted for nearly two hours, sources said. Earlier this month, Pawar had come out in support of the Adani group and criticised the narrative around the US short seller Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. Taking a position at variance from senior ally Congress, Pawar had said he favoured a Supreme Court committee to probe allegations against the Adani group since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would have a majority in the JPC based on numerical strength in Parliament and this would lead to doubts on such a probe. The NCP supremo had later said although his outfit does not agree with the demand of anti-BJP parties for a JPC probe into allegations

Maharashtra's politics churns amid speculations of Ajit Pawar jumping ships

The four-time ex-Deputy CM of Maharashtra has dismissed all the rumours of him switching sides and even rubbished his rumoured bid to switch over to the BJP

Ahead of Karnataka assembly polls, Sharad Pawar chairs NCP meeting

NCP is likely to field candidates in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, according to the report. During the 2018 polls, NCP contested 14 seats in Karnataka

Will meet Opposition leaders in Delhi tomorrow: NCP's Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar said he would be meeting opposition leaders in Delhi on Friday to forge cooperation among them. Efforts by some opposition parties to forge an alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party have begun over the past few days, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and Communist Party of India's D Raja on Thursday. Aam Aadmi Pary leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had met Kumar. who was accompanied by Bihar Deputy CM and RLD leader Tejashwi Yadav, on Wednesday. Queried about his absence from Wednesday's meeting, Pawar, a stalwart of the opposition, said he was asked to join the meeting in Delhi but was unable to do so as he had work in Pune. "I will meet all of them as I am travelling to Delhi tomorrow. We (opposition) will all cooperate and offer (each other) support," Pawar said. Pawar refused to answer questions on speculation about his party .

Ajit Pawar's future bright with NCP, he will not join BJP, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said that the future of Ajit Pawar is bright with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and he might not join BJP.

MVA should work unitedly irrespective of differing opinions: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), of which his party is a constituent along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, should work together unitedly even though the allies may have differences of opinion. Talking to reporters here, Pawar said the issue of unity among the allies was discussed during his meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. Pawar said some programmes have been decided for the unity of the alliance. "Everyone should participate in these programmes. This is the policy we agreed on yesterday," he said. The meeting between Pawar and Thackeray took place days after the NCP chief favoured a probe by a Supreme Court panel into allegations against the Adani Group over a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have been insisting on a JPC probe. Pawar had earlier said although the NCP did not agree with the dema