Ajit Anantrao Pawar, long a defining force in Maharashtra politics, carved his path from a young regional leader to one of the most influential figures in the state over four decades.

Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar rose through the ranks of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), deeply rooted in his Baramati constituency, where he first won legislative office in the early 1990s. Known affectionately as Dada among supporters, his early career was shaped under the guidance of his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, whose towering presence in Maharashtra political circles provided both a platform and, eventually, a source of tension.
From Baramati to Maharashtra power centre

Pawar's first major success came in 1991 when he won the Baramati Lok Sabha seat. Demonstrating loyalty to his family's political strategy, he resigned shortly after to facilitate his uncle's move into the federal Cabinet under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, enabling Sharad Pawar to become Defence Minister. Shortly thereafter, Ajit Pawar switched to state politics, becoming MLA from Baramati - a seat he would represent for seven terms, building a reputation as a political stalwart. His commanding victory in the 2019 Assembly elections with a margin of over 1,65,000 votes cemented his long-standing influence in the region.

Despite serving multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister across varied political alliances - in governments led by both the BJP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition - the chief ministerial post eluded him. A deep-seated belief that he had been "unjustly and repeatedly denied" an opportunity to lead Maharashtra as Chief Minister gradually strained his relationship with his uncle and party elders, leading to a dramatic split from the original NCP in 2023 and aligning with the ruling coalition led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.

Throughout his career, Pawar had been a polarising figure - praised for his grassroots connect and administrative acumen, yet criticised by opponents for what they saw as opportunistic manoeuvres that weakened traditional power structures within his own party.

Electoral dominance and Deputy Chief Ministership
Ajit Pawar's electoral record remained unbroken - he won the Baramati assembly seat in every election he contested, including his eighth successive victory in 2024, reflecting his enduring dominance in his home constituency.
His political career was marked by repeated electoral success and long stints in executive power. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times, across different political formations, making him the longest-serving occupant of the post in the state.
Rooted firmly in Baramati, he was elected seven times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, winning the seat in every election he contested. At the national level, he entered Parliament once, winning the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in 1991, before resigning the same year to facilitate his uncle Sharad Pawar's induction into the Union Cabinet, after which he focused entirely on state politics.

As of the most recent government formation, Ajit Pawar is serving as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra in the Mahayuti alliance government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alongside Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Eknath Shinde. He assumed the post following the alliance's decisive victory in the state assembly elections and was sworn in on December 5, 2024. In this government, Pawar also holds the Finance portfolio and has been entrusted with key administrative responsibilities, including involvement in state budget presentations and developmental initiatives, reflecting his continued influence in Maharashtra's political and governance landscape.

Tragic end of a political titan