Pune: Jayant Patil Seeks To Quit As NCP State President, Appeals To Sharad Pawar
Pune: Jayant Patil Seeks To Quit As NCP State President, Appeals To Sharad Pawar
In a major political development, senior NCP leader and former minister Jayant Patil publicly requested party supremo Sharad Pawar to relieve him from the post of Maharashtra State President during the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction’s foundation day event.
Amid ongoing talks of a possible reunion between the two NCP factions, both groups are holding separate foundation day celebrations. Jayant Patil’s appeal to step down from his position has sparked fresh political speculation.
What exactly did Jayant Patil say?
“Sharad Pawar Saheb gave me several opportunities, including a 7-year tenure as state president. It is time now to give new faces a chance. I respectfully request Saheb, in front of everyone, to make the right decision. We have a long way to go, and it’s time to move forward.”
He reminisced about the party’s inception, recalling the huge crowd that gathered at Shivaji Park in 1999 to hear Sharad Pawar. From 1999 to 2014, the NCP remained in power, making crucial contributions to the state’s development. Even after the BJP came to power in 2014 and many leaders switched sides, he said, loyal workers stayed by Pawar’s side—valuing quality over quantity.
He praised Supriya Sule’s stance on the Sindoor border issue and emphasized that while political differences may exist, the party must stand united on matters of national security. “Sharad Pawar has always taught us that the nation’s interest must come first,” he said.
Patil also recounted the recent Lok Sabha campaign, crediting its success to the hard work of dedicated party members. He applauded Dr. Amol Kolhe for his bold podcast series featuring interviews with key NCP leaders, highlighting their stance post-split.
He referred to past incidents like the ED notice to Pawar and said, “This is a battle of Tukaram versus Nathuram. We are on Tukaram’s side.” Stressing the need for unity, Patil said, “Let us continue to lead the state together.”
He also addressed dissatisfaction among party workers regarding invitations to recent events and took responsibility for any organizational shortcomings. He raised concerns over the suspension of the Shiv Bhojan scheme, alleged misuse of funds meant for orphans, and corruption involving crores found in circuit houses.
Finally, he condemned the ongoing baseless criticism of Sharad Pawar and reminded the audience that Pawar has always been a defender of OBC rights, a stance he continues to uphold.
