The decision of stepping down as the chief of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is in keeping with Pawar's past actions which for good or bad have kept him in the limelight. Amidst wails of his party activists to reconsider his decision, the man from Baramati has let it be known that his decision to step down as the head honcho of the outfit he founded is not yet final.

This is what makes Pawar the shrewdest politician around. He has not closed the door of passageway leading to the chair of the NCP chief and embarked into a journey to political sunset. The door has been kept ajar. Pawar can take the seat in NCP that is rightfully his any moment. Now his decision keeps his allies and opponents keep guessing. It is worthwhile to look into the reasons which prompted Pawar's decision sending NCP in a tizzy.

A group of NCP leaders reportedly in touch with the BJP are targeted by Pawar's decision to resign. He seeks to single out those who would raise even the feeblest voices of protest to his resignation decision. After all, the last thing these persons will wish for is Pawar's continuance as the NCP supremo. Small wonder, they will not be among the lead singers in the chorus asking him to stay back in his post.

Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar's name figures high in the list of those suspected to be in touch with the saffron camp. There are others too with him and were reported to be chalking out the outlines of a bloodless coup following which it would be Ajit Pawar who would be in NCP's driver's seat.

Resignation is a tried and tested instrument that politicians especially veteran leaders use at the time of rebellion in the party ranks. One recalls similar efforts by Janata Dal leader and Karnataka chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and Sonia Gandhi too.

Pawar has used it effectively to divert attention from NCP's intra-party squabbles. The resignation was aimed to scotch the rumour that NCP is heading for a split. Pawar has put in place his nephew Ajit Pawar who nurses the ambition of being the chief minister or at least the NCP chief. How was the junior Pawar to know that after having accepted his uncle's resignation, he (Ajit) would end up as just one of the 15 committee members tasked with finding out his uncle's successor?

His resignation has put the entire quantum of support and sympathy of NCP activists in Pawar's kitty. A dissident who defects from NCP now or tries to upstage Pawar will consign himself to political wilderness and get the party supporters wrath as a bonus thanks to the emotional button the NCP chief has pressed. Pawar has thrown down the gauntlet to likely challengers. But they are loath to pick it up.

Thus Pawar's resignation retains for him the attribute which friend or foe will never found wanting in him. He remains a game changer.

On the surface, Pawar awards himself with the status of NCP's chairman emeritus. Together with it, he remains a rare leader who does not care to cling to the leadership of a political outfit he has founded.

Thereby, Pawar assigns more elbow room for himself. Moreover, he envelops himself in a halo which would give him greater gravitas in negotiating with non-BJP parties before next year's Lok Sabha polls. Pawar's resignation elevates him from the position and status of a one party supremo. He is placed in the unique position of a statesman.

It remains to be seen whether Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Opposition alliance which Pawar has cobbled together can weather the churning within the NCP. His challenge now will be to convince his followers to stay the course.

The out of the blue announcement of Pawar's stepping down came at the release of his autobiography "Lok Maje Sangati" (People are my friend). In sum, his decision has ensured that he remains a man of the people. (IPA Service)