Ajit Pawar, a man who has always kept his word Premium

Ajit Pawar is remembered for his candid way of speaking and his discipline and dedication to public life

“Kasa ahe, Vinaya tai!” is how Ajit Pawar would start talking when asked any question. The literal translation is, “I will tell you how it is, Vinaya tai!” ‘Tai’, meaning sister, is a commonly used term of endearment and respect in Maharashtra. So is ‘Dada’, meaning elder brother. That is how people addressed him, how he referred to himself, and how he carried himself.

This was his typical way of starting his answers, even as he would try to be cautious in the beginning while speaking to the national media. Soon after, true to his nature, he would throw caution to the winds and speak.

I remember asking him about the fiscal prudence of the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana after it was rolled out, providing ₹1,500 to eligible women in the State. It was also a time when the State elections were coming up, and the Mahayuti had promised that the amount would be increased to ₹2,100 if voted back to power. I asked him, “How is that even possible? How will you manage the State’s finances?”

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