PRAMOD CHUNCHUWAR New Delhi/ Mumbai

Having lost not even one election in the 45 years of his political career so far, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said he wants to bid adieu to politics now to make way for the younger generation.

Ironically, this is the third time that Pawar has made this announcement.

" Its enough... It is the responsibility of people like me to encourage younger people and younger leadership to continue to work in ( his) political party," Pawar said in a TV interview.

" I don't want to contest ( the) next Lok Sabha elections because this year I will complete 45 years.

I entered politics in 1967 since then continuously I am getting elected... Fortunately I never lost the elections," he told CNN- IBN. Earlier too, Pawar has made announcements of retiring from the electoral scene, but mostly they have only been on paper. This was his third such announcement or attempt to retire from the electoral scene and therefore no one is ready to take the announcement seriously in the NCP. Earlier in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Pawar was suffering from serious health problems and during the process of finalising candidates, Pawar told his party colleagues that he would not contest the poll. In hindsight, it was part of his gameplan to launch Supriya, his daughter into active politics. The official reason given by him that he wants to concentrate and tour important states where NCP is contesting, did not cut ice with anybody.

Finally, at the last moment he agreed. Supriyas political launch got delayed by at least two year till her appointment to the Rajya Sabha. Then again before 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he declared that he would not join the poll fray.

But soon after this he started search for an alternative constituency.

Maval and Madha were his initial priorities and finally he selected Madha and implemented his plan to instal Supriya as his political heir by fielding her from Baramati.

Meanwhile, the timing of the retirement comes at a time when the state is witnessing mini- assembly elections. It may act as an emotional appeal to workers as earlier the same retirement intention formula was used by Balasaheb Thackeray. Then with 2014 LS elections two and half years away, what is the need to make such an announcement? Is it for Supriyas Cabinet berth? While his nephew Ajit Pawar is aggressively trying to become the Chief Minister of the state, his daughter is still without any cabinet berth. It will be hard to for both of them to remain in the Union cabinet. If Pawar really retires, it will pave the way for Supriyas cabinet berth.