NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday hinted at his retirement from politics after the end of his Rajya Sabha term in 2026. He added that he would not contest any elections and that it was time for the new generation to enter politics.
“I am not in power. I am in Rajya Sabha and the last one and a half years are left. I have already contested 14 elections, how many more shall I contest? Now I think the new generation should be given the opportunity,” Pawar said addressing a public rally in Baramati, from where his nephew Yugendra is contesting for the assembly elections.
“I will not contest Lok Sabha elections. I will not contest any election now. I have contested 14 elections so far. You never let me go home in any of these elections, you made me win in all of the elections. You made me win every election but I have to stop somewhere,” the 84-year-old added.
The former Maharashtra CM said that he would continue to serve the people, especially “the rural and backward areas, the Adivasis.”
However, this is not the first time that the octogenarian has made headlines regarding his retirement. Last year, in a surprise announcement, Pawar had decided to quit as the party president of NCP (SCP).
“I have three years left of Rajya Sabha membership in Parliament, during which I will focus on issues related to Maharashtra and India, with a caveat of not taking any responsibility. After a long period of public life from May 1, 1960, to May 1, 2023, it is necessary to take a step back. Hence, I have decided to step down as the president of the Nationalist Congress Party,” he had said.
Baramati, a long-time stronghold of the Pawar family, is set for another high-stakes family showdown. This time, seven-time MLA Ajit Pawar will face off against his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, for the seat. This marks the second instance this year where the Pawar family is embroiled in a political contest, following Ajit’s decision to field his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his sister, Supriya Sule, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.