Seeking to pacify party workers protesting against his announcement to step down as NCP chief, Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said he will need two to three days to "think over" his decision.
Conveying his message to protesting party workers, his nephew Ajit Pawar also requested NCP functionaries not to resign from their posts in protest against Pawar senior's surprise decision.
"He (Sharad Pawar) has said he has made his decision, but he will need two-three days to think it over on account of your insistence. But he will think it over only when all workers go home," Ajit told party workers at the premises of the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan here.
He said, “We told him(Sharad Pawar) that workers are quite upset. We also told him that party workers want him to remain the party president along with having a working president. He said he will rethink his decision and requires 2-3 days…"
Scores of Nationalist Congress Party workers refused to leave the venue, where Pawar earlier in the day announced his decision during the launch of his revised autobiography.
They stayed put even after Pawar left for his residence.
Earlier today, as Mr Pawar announced his resignation, doubling doubts that his nephew, Ajit Pawar, is drifting towards the BJP, shell shocked party workers refused to leave the party headquarters.
Several party leaders, including MLA Jayant Patil, broke down. Other MLAs declared that they would quit the assembly.