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From being the trusted lieutenant of his uncle, Sharad Pawar, to carving out his independent political path, Ajit Pawar’s career is marked by both resilience and controversies
Ajit Pawar has been the deputy CM in all governments since 2019 Assembly elections. (PTI)
Ajit Pawar, a name synonymous with Maharashtra politics, is among the state’s most seasoned and controversial leaders. Known for his administrative acumen, sharp wit, and grassroots connect, Ajit has remained a significant player in state politics for over three decades. From being the trusted lieutenant of his uncle, Sharad Pawar, to carving out his independent political path, Ajit Pawar’s career is marked by both resilience and controversies.
Ajit Pawar was announced as the deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra again by CM-elect Devendra Fadnavis at a press conference, as the Mahayuti alliance ended days of speculation and tense negotiations to move forward with the government. Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde met Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Mumbai’s Raj Bhavan on Wednesday afternoon to stake claim to form the government.
Ajit Pawar entered politics in the early 1980s under the mentorship of his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder, Sharad Pawar. Beginning as a member of the Pune District Cooperative Bank in 1982, Ajit steadily climbed the political ladder. He was elected to the Maharashtra legislative assembly from Baramati in 1991, a seat he has retained ever since. His administrative abilities earned him key ministerial portfolios, including water resources, irrigation, and power, in successive Congress-NCP coalition governments.
‘Home’ Run
One portfolio Ajit always wanted but never got is the home department of Maharashtra. In the 2019 Uddhav Thackeray-led government, when Ajit was inducted in the second expansion of the cabinet, NCP leader Sharad Pawar chose his close aide Anil Deshmukh over his own nephew as the state’s home minister. When Deshmukh was arrested on alleged bribery charges, Sharad Pawar asked another close aide of his, Dilip Walse Patil, to take over and again kept Ajit away from the home department.
Ajit’s first stint as deputy chief minister came in 1999 under chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, when the Congress-NCP alliance came to power. Over the years, Ajit held the deputy CM post six times, a record in Maharashtra politics, serving under several chief ministers, including Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
Despite his growing stature in the NCP and Maharashtra politics, Ajit Pawar was overlooked for the CM post in 2004, when the Congress-NCP coalition won 78 seats. Sharad Pawar, the NCP supremo, instead focused on securing more portfolios for the party in the coalition, a decision that disappointed Ajit and his supporters. This incident underscored Ajit’s role as a key administrator rather than a primary leader, with Sharad Pawar retaining the reins of leadership. While Ajit was given a free hand to handle Maharashtra’s affairs, especially in managing the party at the state level, the cooperative sector, and irrigation projects, he remained in the shadow of his uncle, which sowed seeds of discontent in later years.
String Of Controversies
Ajit Pawar’s career has been marred by several controversies, most notably the 2012 irrigation scam, where allegations of financial irregularities in irrigation projects during his tenure as water resources minister surfaced. Ajit resigned temporarily but returned after being given a clean chit, though the controversy dented his image.
In 2019, Ajit’s reputation took another hit when he joined hands with the BJP in a surprise early morning swearing-in ceremony with Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. This government collapsed within 80 hours as Ajit returned to the NCP fold. The episode raised questions about his loyalty towards Sharad Pawar and his political ambitions.
Changing Equations With Uncle
Ajit Pawar’s decision to break away from Sharad Pawar in 2023 marked a turning point in Maharashtra politics. After years of playing second fiddle in the NCP, Ajit’s growing frustration with his uncle’s control over the party and reluctance to pass on the leadership mantle led to a split. Ajit joined hands with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, taking oath as deputy CM again. The move shocked political circles but reflected Ajit’s pragmatic approach to power and governance. Ajit’s departure also highlighted generational differences within the NCP. While Sharad Pawar maintained his traditional coalition politics, Ajit sought to align with the BJP to ensure political relevance and avoid being sidelined in a rapidly changing political landscape.
The 2024 general elections proved disastrous for Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, with the party managing to win only one seat. Many political observers declared it the end of Ajit’s career, as he faced criticism from all sides for breaking away from Sharad Pawar and failing to deliver results. However, Ajit’s resilience came to the fore in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Against all odds, his faction of the NCP staged a strong comeback, winning over 41 seats, and establishing his position as a key political force in Maharashtra. This performance silenced critics who had written him off and reasserted his relevance in state politics and also sent a very strong message to his uncle Sharad Pawar that the people of Maharashtra still support him and his vision for which he joined the Shiv Sena-BJP Mahayuti bloc.
Ajit Pawar’s political career is marked by several notable achievements, particularly in the irrigation and cooperative sectors. His tenure as water resources minister saw significant investments in irrigation projects, though these were also accompanied by allegations of corruption. Ajit is credited with modernising cooperative banks and sugar mills in Maharashtra, which are crucial to the state’s agrarian economy.
As a politician, Ajit is known for his no-nonsense approach, sharp decision-making, and ability to connect with voters at the grassroots level. Despite the controversies, he remains one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders, with a loyal support base in the western part of the state, especially in his stronghold of Baramati. Ajit is regarded as one of the leaders with a very strong hold on the bureaucracy, whether he is in power or not.
Ajit Pawar’s journey from being Sharad Pawar’s trusted aide to carving out his independent political path is a testament to his resilience and ambition. Despite setbacks, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt and bounce back. His decision to part ways with Sharad Pawar and join hands with the BJP and Shiv Sena may have been seen as opportunistic, but it reflects his pragmatic approach to retaining political relevance. Ajit’s comeback in the 2024 state elections has solidified his position as a political survivor who thrives against the odds.
While controversies have often overshadowed his achievements, Ajit Pawar’s impact on Maharashtra’s politics cannot be ignored. As he continues to navigate the state’s complex political landscape, observers say Ajit remains a leader to watch, capable of shaping Maharashtra’s future for years to come.
