I will not contest LS polls; will remain in public life: Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said he was firm on his decision not to contest Lok Sabha elections in future but made it clear that he will not retire from public life. Pawar said he did not want to contest even the 2009 LS polls but did so under pressure from party workers. “I had made up my mind to withdraw from electoral politics long ago when my daughter (Supriya Sule) started taking interest in managing my Baramati constituency. [caption id=“attachment_203155” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“PTI”]  [/caption] “I have been contesting elections since 1962 and always won. Now, I thought that I should give it up. But, this does not mean I will quit politics. I will continue to dedicate my time to party work and other social activities,” he told reporters. Replying to a question, the Union minister said he had not yet decided whether to take up Rajya Sabha membership. Asked why he had chosen to make this announcement two years before LS elections, Pawar said, “My intention is to tell my party workers and voters to look for a suitable alternative from now on.” PTI