Sharad Pawar's presence are needed in politics as well as president of NCP, says Narayan Rane

After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar announced that he would step down as party head, Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narayan Rane said the 82-year-old leader’s presence was needed in politics as well as his party’s president.

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. His nephew Ajit Pawar later announced his uncle will need two to three days to think over his decision.

About Ajit Pawar appearing to be the only NCP leader favouring his uncle’s decision, Rane said, Ajit was making big speeches. He found Pawar’s decision correct while the party workers hold a contrarian view. Respected Sharad Pawar, you are needed in politics as well as president of NCP, said Rane, a former Shiv Sena leader.

Uddhav Thackeray is incapable as a leader and this is a fact. Still, Sharad Pawar made him chief minister. Pawar has admitted about his (Thackeray’s) shortcomings as chief minister, Rane said when asked about remarks made by Pawar in his autobiography Lok Majhe Sangati (People Accompany Me).