Ajit Pawar dies: The strategist who dominated Maharashtra's political maths

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the plane he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land in Baramati. The crash has cut short the career of one of Maharashtra’s most influential and enduring political figures. Pawar was 66.

Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar grew up in a family deeply woven into Maharashtra’s public life.

His early years were spent around the cooperative institutions that have shaped politics in western Maharashtra. It was here that he built his first networks, working with sugar factories, milk unions and local banks long before he took on major political office.

Pawar's formal political rise began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After initial stints in local bodies and the cooperative sector, he won the Baramati Assembly seat, a constituency he went on to represent term after term.

From there, Pawar’s climb was steady. He became known for his administrative efficiency and for wielding considerable influence in state policy, especially in finance, irrigation and rural development.

Pawar served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, making him one of the longest-serving politicians in that role. Across different governments, regardless of shifting alliances, he remained central to budget-making and bureaucratic decision-making.

His grasp of numbers and state finances earned him a reputation as the man who effectively ran Maharashtra’s fiscal machinery.

His political journey was marked by several turning points. He played a key role in the Nationalist Congress Party for decades and was its most prominent leader in western Maharashtra.

In recent years, he became a pivotal force during multiple splits and realignments within the party. His moves often rewired the state’s political equations and reshaped coalition governments.

Pawar also carried his share of controversy, particularly around the irrigation sector, though he consistently denied wrongdoing.

Despite political storms, his base held firm in Baramati and surrounding regions, thanks to a mix of grassroots outreach, cooperative-sector strength and strong organisational control.

Known for his fast-paced working style and for holding regular public interactions, Pawar remained active in government till the end. He was serving as Deputy Chief Minister in the current Maharashtra government at the time of his death.

Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife and two children. His death leaves a major gap in Maharashtra politics. For a state that has often run on coalition arithmetic and strong regional networks, Pawar’s absence will alter both political calculations and the balance of power.

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