NCP workers break into celebration after party committee passes resolution to reject Pawar's decision to step down

As a Nationalist Congress Party NCP panel formed to choose the next party president announced on Friday that it had unanimously rejected Sharad Pawars decision to step down jubilant NCP workers broke out in celebration outside the outfits officeThey burst crackers raising slogans Ekach saheb there is only one bossScores of party workers had gathered outside the NCP office at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai demanding that Pawar reconsiders his decisionAlthough the committee was to officially meet at 11 am leaders and party workers had reached much before the scheduled timeAll appeared to be well synergised and wellorchestrated workers wearing white caps with I am with saheb printed in blue some holding party flags while others holding placards with an appeal that Pawar reconsiders his decision As more leaders continued to enter the NCP office the crowd of party workers jostled together in the sweltering weather their bodies covered in sweatOne worker even tried to immolate himself by pouring kerosene on his body He was stopped by fellow workersAlso Read NCP and the country needs a leader like Sharad Pawar says Praful PatelAround 1130 am it had more or less become clear that the committee had passed a resolution rejecting Pawars decision to step down No sooner did the announcement was made by Praful Patel NCP vice president and the committees convenor than the workers erupted in joyThey burst firecrackers and filled the air with slogans Ekach saheb there is only one bossAs senior NCP leader and Pawars nephew Ajit Pawar made his way from the party office a group of supporters screamed Ekach Dada there is only one big brother as the slogan Ekach saheb continued Ajit Pawar is affectionately called Dada in political circlesEarlier this week NCP workers had staged protests after Pawar announced his decision to step down as party presidentFormer Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Anand Paranjpe who later joined the NCP said Pawar saheb has to accept the committees resolution He had come here with party leader and KalwaMumbra MLA Jitendra Ahwad accompanied by his supportersParanjpe was seen instructing his supporters to arrange for drums crackers and sweets as he left for ThanePawar on Tuesday sprang a surprise by announcing his decision to quit as president of the party he founded and headed since 1999 when he left the Congress to chart his own political courseThe announcement made at the launch of his updated autobiography stumped leaders and workers of the 24yearold partyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever