Mumbai: NCP president Sharad Pawar today appointed Sunil Tatkare, the party's Maharashtra unit chief, as one of the national general secretaries.

Tatkare, whose four-year term as the state unit chief is coming to an end, had told reporters earlier in the day that he didn't want to continue in the post and had asked the party to appoint a new leader.

A press release issued by party leader Tariq Anwar said Tatkare has been appointed as one of the national general secretaries of the NCP with immediate effect.

Speaking to reporters here, Tatkare had said he had asked the party leadership to appoint a new state unit chief.

"The state unit is all geared up to face elections next year. We have done the groundwork and the party is ready for take off. I have requested the party to nominate a competent leader for the post of state unit chief," he said.

The decision on the new state unit chief will be taken at a meeting of senior leaders chaired by Sharad Pawar in Pune on April 29, NCP sources said.