Baramati was both the beginning and the end of Pawar’s political journey. It was here that he entered politics, learnt the mechanics of power in the shadow of his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and built the base that would sustain him for over three decades.
How it began
Ajit Pawar’s political career began at age 23 within the cooperative institutions of western Maharashtra. Elected to the board of a sugar cooperative in 1982, he later became chairman of the Pune District Cooperative Bank, a position he held for 16 years.
Following the path of Sharad Pawar, he gained experience in rural economic systems and regional development.
Pawar was first elected from the Baramati Assembly constituency in 1991 and retained the seat continuously for over 30 years.
Ministerial roles
Ajit Pawar’s rise within the government was driven by his command over heavyweight portfolios. Across multiple terms, he handled irrigation, water resources, energy, planning and, most significantly, finance.
As Water Resources and Irrigation Minister, Pawar pushed large-scale projects in the Krishna Valley, Konkan and drought-prone regions of Marathwada and western Maharashtra.
His tenure expanded irrigation capacity but also saw allegations of irregularities in project approvals. He denied them.
In finance, Pawar was seen as one of the state’s most powerful budget managers. Often described as a hands-on administrator, he focused on capital expenditure, faster fund disbursal to districts and tighter control over departmental spending.
He earned the informal reputation of being Maharashtra’s ‘finance manager-in-chief’.
Ajit Pawar’s changing politics
Pawar’s most consequential impact came through his political decisions.
In November 2019, Maharashtra was placed under President’s Rule after no party or alliance could form a government following the assembly elections. Ajit Pawar helped end this when he unexpectedly aligned with the BJP, leading to a dawn swearing-in ceremony on November 23 in which Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister, and Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
The government collapsed within three days after he failed to secure sufficient support from NCP legislators.
He returned to the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition in December 2019 as Deputy Chief Minister under Uddhav Thackeray.
In July 2023, following the collapse of the MVA government, Pawar split the NCP and joined the BJP–Shiv Sena (Shinde) government. The Election Commission recognised his faction as the official NCP, ending Sharad Pawar’s unchallenged control of the party.
By December 2024, Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister for the sixth time, confirming his position within the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
Pawar’s attempt to expand nationally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was largely unsuccessful. He won only one seat despite holding the party name and symbol. His faction of the NCP still performed strongly in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 41 seats as part of the Mahayuti alliance.
