Ajit Pawar: Sharad Pawar’s shadow to Fadnavis’ ally, a look at his 40-year political journey

From sugar cooperatives to six-time Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar has always ruled Maharashtra

Ajit Pawar (66), Maharashtra’s longest serving Deputy Chief Minister passed away in an air crash near his home — Baramati, on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), bringing his political career spanning four decades to an abrupt end. 

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Fondly known as ‘Ajit Dada’, the Pawar scion had recently buried hatchet with his mentor and uncle Sharad Pawar to contest the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls jointly as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In spite of a poll drubbing in Pune, merger of the two NCP factions appeared to be on the cards as the uncle and nephew recently met in Pune. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar (an NCP Rajya Sabha MP) and his sons – Jay and Parth. 

In his 44 years of public service, Ajit Pawar has followed his uncle’s footsteps in politics – from the sugar cooperatives in Baramati to six-time Deputy Chief Minister of the State. Known as Maharashtra’s ‘forever CM-in-waiting’, scams, corruption and betrayal dotted his long political career as he transformed from his uncle’s shadow to robbing him of his party along with its iconic symbol – the clock. 

Here’s a look at his political highs and lows:

Born to Anantrao and Ashatai Pawar on July 22, 1959 in Deolali town in Ahmednagar, Ajit Pawar was introduced to politics since its ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ movement days. With then-Congress leader Sharad Pawar as his uncle, Ajit Pawar was destined to follow his footsteps. Untimely death of his father forced him to drop out of college and take care of his family.