Ajit Pawar under pressure to withdraw resignation as NCP puts onus on Sharad Pawar

A crucial meeting of NCP legislators called to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the resignation of Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister today wound up within 20 minutes with a call to him to take back his papers.

The meeting, expected to be stormy due to the widening rift with 13-year-old ally Congress, ended rather tamely with the legislators unanimously adopting a resolution requesting Pawar to withdraw his resignation.

It was decided that state NCP president Madhukar Pichad would convey the sentiments of the legislators to party chief Sharad Pawar who would take a final call on the resignation by the Deputy Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan it yet to accept the resignation of Pawar.

"A resolution was adopted requesting Pawar to take back his resignation," Pichad told reporters after the meeting at Vidhan Bhawan which was attended by all its 61 MLAs, nine independents supporting the party, besides half-a-dozen MLCs.

According to Pichad, only a resolution asking Pawar to withdraw the resignation was moved and adopted and there was no political discussion due to the passing away of veteran NCP leader and former state assembly speaker Babasaheb Kupekar.

"As all of us are saddened by the demise of Babaseb, it was decided that keeping in mind the solemnness of the occasion nothing political will be discussed," Pichad said and refused to take any questions.

He said he would seek an appointment with Sharad Pawar "in a day or two" and a "final" decision would be taken.

NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, however, said Ajit Pawar did not "react" to the demand made by the legislators for taking back his resignation.

Pawar had resigned yesterday following media reports about his alleged involvement in irrigation scam during his decade-long stint as water resources minister between 1999 and 2009.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Coal scam report: Law Minister Ashwani Kumar resigns after meet with PM

Slow rise, fast fall for P K Bansal

Ishrat Jahan encounter case: Cops protecting accused, says Gujarat HC

Setback for Mamata govt, HC upholds state EC's move to hold 3-phase panchayat polls