On June 11, 2025, Ajit Anantrao Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, marking another milestone in his long political career. He is a well-known leader in Maharashtra’s politics. Ajit Pawar belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He is the nephew of Sharad Pawar, a famous Indian politician. This biography tells the story of Ajit Pawar’s life, family, education, political journey, achievements, and controversies in simple English.
Early Life and Family
Ajit Pawar was born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara, a village in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. His full name is Ajit Anantrao Pawar. His father, Anantrao Pawar, was the elder brother of Sharad Pawar. Anantrao worked at Rajkamal Studios in Mumbai, a film studio owned by the famous filmmaker V. Shantaram. Ajit’s mother was Ashatai Pawar. His grandparents were Govindrao Pawar and Shardabai Pawar. Govindrao worked with a cooperative trading group in Baramati, and Shardabai managed the family farm.
Ajit grew up in a large family. His grandparents had 11 children, including Sharad Pawar. Ajit has two siblings: a brother named Shrinivas, who is a businessman, and a sister named Vijaya Patil, who passed away in 2017. Ajit’s family was closely tied to farming and rural life. This helped him understand the problems faced by farmers from a young age.
Ajit is married to Sunetra Pawar. They got married in 1985. Sunetra is the daughter of Padamsinh Bajirao Patil, a former Maharashtra minister. The couple has two sons, Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar. Jay is a businessman, while Parth has entered politics but faced defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sunetra is also active in politics and became a Rajya Sabha MP in 2024. The Pawar family is very close and supports Ajit in his political work.
Education
Ajit Pawar studied at the Maharashtra Education Society High School in Baramati. He completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC), which is equivalent to 10th grade. After school, he moved to Mumbai to pursue college. Sadly, his father passed away during this time. Ajit had to leave college to take care of his family. He did not complete his graduation. Despite this, his practical knowledge and hard work made him successful in politics.
Ajit Pawar Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Political Party, Net Worth, Son, Wife, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajit Anantrao Pawar |
| Date of Birth | July 22, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra |
| Family | - Father: Anantrao Pawar - Mother: Ashatai Pawar - Uncle: Sharad Pawar - Siblings: Shrinivas (brother), Vijaya Patil (sister, deceased 2017) - Wife: Sunetra Pawar (married 1985) - Sons: Jay Pawar, Parth Pawar |
| Education | - SSC at Maharashtra Education Society High School, Baramati - Did not complete college due to father’s death |
| Political Party | Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) |
| Political Career Start | 1982, elected to a cooperative sugar factory board in Pune |
| Key Political Roles | - 1991: Elected to Lok Sabha from Baramati (resigned for Sharad Pawar) - 1991: Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Baramati - 1991: Minister of State for Agriculture and Power - 1992: Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power, and Planning - 1999: Cabinet Minister for Irrigation - 2010: Deputy Chief Minister (first time) - Deputy Chief Minister (six times: 2010, 2019, 2023, 2024, and others) - 2022: Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly |
| Major Achievements | - Improved irrigation systems in Maharashtra - Modernized water management for farmers - Longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra - Holds “Janata Darbars” to solve people’s problems - Developed Baramati as a model for progress |
| Controversies | - 2012: Accused in Rs. 70,000 crore irrigation scam (resigned, later reinstated) - 2013: Made insensitive remark about drought (apologized) - 2019: Briefly joined BJP-led government (resigned after 80 hours) - 2023: Split NCP, joined BJP-Shiv Sena government |
| NCP Split | - July 2023: Split from Sharad Pawar’s NCP, joined BJP-Shiv Sena government - Feb 7, 2024: Election Commission gave NCP name and symbol to Ajit’s faction |
| Recent Developments | - Dec 5, 2024: Took oath as Deputy Chief Minister under Devendra Fadnavis - 2024 Maharashtra Elections: NCP (Ajit’s faction) won 41 seats |
| Personal Traits | - Punctual, works 16-17 hours daily - Straightforward, quick decision-maker - Known as “Dada” (elder brother) by supporters - Likes expensive watches and pens - Avoids parties and events |
| Hobbies/Interests | - Limited interest in art or technology - Focuses on agriculture and rural development |
| Legacy | - Strong leader in Maharashtra politics - Known for youth and women empowerment - Built strong base in Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad and Baramati |
Entry into Politics
Ajit Pawar started his political career in 1982 at the age of 23. He was elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory in Pune. This was his first step into public life. Cooperative societies are important in Maharashtra’s economy, especially in the sugar industry. Ajit’s work in the cooperative sector helped him connect with farmers and rural people.
In 1991, Ajit became the chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank. He held this position for 16 years. The same year, he entered national politics. He won the Lok Sabha election from Baramati. However, his uncle Sharad Pawar needed a parliamentary seat to become India’s Defence Minister. Ajit gave up his Lok Sabha seat for Sharad. This showed his loyalty to his uncle.
Ajit then focused on state politics. He contested a by-election in 1991 and won a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Baramati. Since then, he has won the Baramati seat seven times (1991, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019). His strong connection with Baramati’s people has made him unbeatable in this area.
Political Career and Achievements
Ajit Pawar has held many important positions in Maharashtra’s government. In 1991, he became Minister of State for Agriculture and Power under Chief Minister Sudhakarrao Naik. In 1992, when Sharad Pawar became Chief Minister, Ajit was made Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power, and Planning. These early roles helped him learn about governance.
In 1999, Sharad Pawar formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) after leaving the Congress party. Ajit joined the NCP and became a key leader. That year, he was made Cabinet Minister for Irrigation in the Congress-NCP coalition government. He later handled other departments like Rural Development, Water Resources, and Finance. His work in irrigation helped improve water management for farmers. He also modernized Maharashtra’s irrigation systems, which was a major achievement.
Ajit Pawar became Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the first time in 2010. He has served as Deputy Chief Minister six times under different Chief Ministers, including Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde. This makes him the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra’s history. As Deputy Chief Minister, he managed important departments like Finance, Planning, and Energy. His focus on development earned him respect among his supporters.
Ajit is known for his punctuality and hard work. He works 16-17 hours a day to solve people’s problems. He holds “Janata Darbars,” where he meets common people and listens to their issues. His straightforward approach and quick decision-making make him popular. People call him “Dada,” which means elder brother in Marathi. This nickname shows the love and respect he gets from his followers, especially the youth.
In 2022, Ajit became the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. This happened after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed due to a split in the Shiv Sena party. Ajit’s leadership skills helped him guide the NCP during this tough time.
Split in NCP
In July 2023, Ajit Pawar made a bold move. He split from Sharad Pawar’s NCP and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Eknath Shinde. He took most of the NCP’s MLAs with him. Ajit claimed to be the president of the NCP and asked for the party’s name and symbol. On February 7, 2024, the Election Commission of India gave the NCP name and symbol to Ajit’s faction. Sharad Pawar’s group was named Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).
This split caused a big stir in Maharashtra’s politics. Some say Ajit wanted more power and felt limited under Sharad Pawar’s leadership. Others believe he wanted to secure his political future. The split also created tension in the Pawar family, as Sharad’s daughter Supriya Sule stayed loyal to her father.
Controversies
Ajit Pawar has faced several controversies. In 2012, he was accused of a Rs. 70,000 crore irrigation scam. A Maharashtra bureaucrat named Vijay Pandhare claimed Ajit misused funds as Water Resources Minister. Activist Anjali Damania demanded his resignation. Ajit resigned as Deputy Chief Minister but was later reinstated after the allegations were not proven.
In 2013, Ajit made a controversial statement during a drought in Maharashtra. He said, “If there is no water in the dam, should I urinate into it?” This upset many people, who felt he was insensitive. Ajit later apologized for his words.
In 2019, Ajit briefly joined a BJP-led government with Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister. He became Deputy Chief Minister but resigned after 80 hours when the government collapsed. Some criticized him for betraying the NCP, but he returned to the party soon after.
Personal Traits and Legacy
Ajit Pawar is known for his discipline and focus. He is punctual and prefers to work quietly. He speaks mostly in Marathi and avoids events or parties. Ajit likes expensive watches and pens but has little interest in art or technology. His stronghold is the Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad area, where he has strong ties with the builder community.
Ajit’s supporters admire his vision for development. He believes in empowering youth and women. He wants to improve villages and towns through agriculture and industry. His work has made Baramati a model for development in Maharashtra.
However, Ajit’s ambition has caused conflicts. Some say he wants to become Chief Minister one day. His rivalry with Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule has created challenges for the NCP. Despite this, Ajit remains a powerful leader in Maharashtra.
Recent Developments
In the 2024 Maharashtra elections, Ajit Pawar’s NCP won 41 seats as part of the Mahayuti alliance. This proved his decision to split from Sharad Pawar was strategic. On December 5, 2024, he became Deputy Chief Minister again under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He continues to play a key role in Maharashtra’s politics.
Ajit Pawar’s journey is one of hard work, loyalty, and ambition. From a young boy in a village to a top leader, he has shaped Maharashtra’s future. His story is not without flaws, but his dedication to his people makes him a unique figure in Indian politics. As he continues his work, Ajit Pawar’s legacy will be remembered for years to come.