Jitendra Awhad resigns as NCP Gen Secy, day after Pawar steps down

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday submitted his resignation from his post as the party’s general secretary, a day after party supremo Sharad Pawar announced his decision to step down as its president. “I have resigned from my post of National General Secretary and I have sent my resignation to Sharad Pawar Saheb. All office bearers of Thane NCP have also resigned after Pawar Saheb’s announcement”, Jitendra Awhad told ANI. On Tuesday, Pawar had said that he is stepping down as party chief, with the surprise announcement drawing emotional reactions from thousands of NCP leaders, workers and supporters who urged him to reconsider. Among those who urged Pawar to reconsider included Chhagan Bhujbal, Jitendra Awhad and Dilip Walse Patil. Pawar, a former Maharashtra Chief Minister and union minister was seen as a key architect of moves towards opposition unity ahead of the 2024 electoral battle. Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar, who had earlier said that “Pawar Saheb himself had said about the necessity of change in guard a few days back” later said that the NCP veteran would take two to three days to rethink his decision.