Five important turning points in the life of 'Dada' Ajit Pawar (Photo- ANI)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. He was 'Dada' for his supporters and a headache for his opponents - a hard-working politician with a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind. Ajit Pawar never gave up his desire to get the top job and his politics always reflected the restlessness of a man pressed for time.
Pawar, a six-time deputy chief minister, was known for his authority, respected for his administrative acumen and often faced criticism for his harsh nature. It seemed that he was always ready for the highest post in Maharashtra, but never reached that position. Ajit Pawar was the successor of Sharad Pawar's politics.
On Wednesday morning, his life ended suddenly in a plane crash near Baramati, which was his home town. He left behind a career that was defined as much by influence as by unfulfilled ambitions.
Ajit Pawar (66) was on his way from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the local elections when the plane crashed during landing. All five people on board the aircraft were killed, including two of its employees and two crew members. The cause of the accident has not been confirmed yet and the investigation is ongoing.
Beyond the headlines of a tragic death lies a larger political story, the story of a grassroots leader who mastered the state's rural power networks, repeatedly reached the doorstep of power and then saw the post of chief minister remain just beyond his reach.
1- Started politics from Baramati, entered politics in 1982
Ajit Pawar's political education began not in television studios, but in Maharashtra's strongest power centers - the network of sugar and cooperative societies. Born on July 22, 1959, to Asha and Anantrao Pawar, he entered politics in 1982, when he was elected to the board of a sugar factory, following in the footsteps of his uncle Sharad Pawar.
The Baramati brand gave him what few leaders get – a mass that acts like a fortress and a political machinery that runs year-round. His rise did not happen by mere chance. This was the result of organizational strategy.
2- Deputy Chief Minister and punctual 'hard worker'
Pawar became Deputy Chief Minister several times during changing coalitions, his tenure lasting a record six terms, and he earned a reputation as a punctual and hard-working man, which is unusual in a political culture notorious for delays. It was this period that shaped his strongest political identity – as an administrator who could deliver results.
Even rivals reluctantly admitted that he understood the workings of the state and how to run it effectively. His hold on the finance and planning ministries further strengthened his authority. He was expected to present Maharashtra's 2026-27 budget next month.
3- Controversies hurt him, but did not break him
Pawar's supporters considered him a decisive and hard-working leader, while his critics saw him as a leader who regularly attracted controversy as he sought power. Allegations related to the irrigation scam and later controversies related to the land deals of his son Parth have repeatedly become political weapons against him.
Still, the pattern remained the same: They stood their ground. His most infamous public controversy came in 2013, when he mocked the state's drought crisis while addressing a village gathering in Indapur, sparking outrage and forcing him to apologize. This incident exposed both sides of his personality: that he is politically astute and outspoken.
4- Swearing in ceremony took place at dawn in 2019 and the hunger for power
In November 2019, a political move was made that transformed him from an influential leader of the state to a national talking point: an impromptu early morning swearing-in ceremony with Devendra Fadnavis. Ajit Pawar became Deputy Chief Minister in a government that lasted barely two days, but whose influence lasted much longer. This was not mere opportunism. This was a sign.
Pawar never hid his ambition for the post of Chief Minister. That morning was widely seen as his transition from his "uncle's successor" image to his "I can take over" image. This attempt did not succeed, but it permanently established him as Maharashtra's most unpredictable ruler.
5- Separation from Sharad Pawar in 2023, then reunion
In July 2023, Ajit Pawar pulled off the biggest upset of his career – he rebelled against Sharad Pawar, taking most of the MLAs with him and forming an alliance with the BJP-Shiv Sena government. The move not only divided a party, but also a legacy. But there is no place for personal drama in politics.
After a disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where his faction got just one seat, he made a spectacular comeback in the assembly elections by winning 41 seats, strengthening his position and silencing his critics, at least temporarily. Then a new turn came.
Ahead of the municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar were seen joining forces strategically to avoid division of votes. Pawar publicly called it practical politics, saying that the two groups fighting among themselves would only benefit the opponents. That "reunion" fueled speculation about a future merger of the groups, and the discussion now remains unresolved following his sudden death.
Ajit Pawar, a six-time Deputy Chief Minister, remains the state's most influential and autocratic ruling leader, feared by rivals and highly valued by allies. They formed governments, divided parties and changed equations, often overnight. He did not become the Chief Minister, but hardly anyone has had influence like him in the politics of Maharashtra.
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