DIVYA DELHI : From His Uncle’s Shadow to a Political Force: Ajit Pawar’s Journey For much of his political career, Ajit Pawar worked under the shadow of his uncle, veteran leader Sharad Pawar. He began his political journey with the Congress party, where Sharad Pawar was already a prominent figure. In 1999, when Sharad Pawar broke away from Congress to form the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Ajit Pawar followed him and quickly rose through the party’s ranks. Over the years, Ajit Pawar served as both a Member of Parliament and a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He also held the position of Deputy Chief Minister in multiple state governments. In 2023, Ajit Pawar made a major political move by splitting from his uncle’s party and joining the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, along with a large group of NCP leaders. His rebellion earned him the post of Deputy Chief Minister but divided the NCP into two factions and ended decades of political unity within the Pawar family. Political analyst Abhay Deshpande noted that in recent months there had been discussions about a possible reunion between uncle and nephew. Now, we may never see that day. But perhaps Ajit Pawar’s death will bring the family together again .
