Jayant Patil Hints at Stepping Down on NCP Foundation Day

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil on Tuesday offered to step down as the party's Maharashtra unit president, amid a buzz over the reunion of the rival factions of the NCP, saying the time had come for the party to give opportunities to new faces.

- Yogesh Joshi

PUNE:

Patil made the remarks at an event in Pune celebrating the 26th foundation day of the undivided NCP, which was founded by veteran leader Sharad Pawar. In a separate event in the city to mark the foundation day, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP said there was no proposal of reunion with the rival faction.

"Pawar Saheb gave me many opportunities. I was given a tenure of seven years. Ultimately, the party needs to give a chance to new faces. I will request Sharad Pawar in front of you all—after all, the party belongs to Pawar Saheb. He should take an appropriate decision on this. We have a long way to go," Patil said while addressing the NCP(SP) leaders and workers.

Sharad Pawar and party's working national president Supriya Sule were also present on the occasion.