The NCP's Core Committee passed a proposal requesting party chief Sharad Pawar to continue to lead the party. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held a core committee meeting on Friday after party chief Sharad Pawar announced his resignation from the post.

Celebrations by NCP party workers erupted soon after senior NCP Praful Patel announce the committee's decision at a press conference.

“Mr Pawar expressed his desire to step down as president of the party. We unanimously reject the resignation. We have decided unanimously that we will request him to carry on as party president,” Patel said at the press conference.

Patel added that many top leaders of the country in the past few days have reached out to Pawar, Supriya Sule and even him and expressed their sentiments. “We have seen the sentiments of the cadre from across districts. Everyone has expressed that he shouldn't be stepping down (as party chief),” he said.

"There is sadness, and they are hurt and upset. We can't ignore that. Whatever decision Mr Pawar took he didn't take us into confidence. We had a meeting today after he gave us the responsibility to choose the next party chief. Today, the committee in its meeting has passed a resolution unanimously," Patel said.