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{{Short description|Indian politician (born 1959)}}
{{Short description|Indian politician (1959–2026)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}  
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               =[[File:Ajit Pawar.jpg|200px]]
| name          = Ajit Pawar
| imagesize          =  
| image         = Shri Ajit Anantrao Pawar.jpg
| name                = Ajit Pawar
| caption        = Pawar in 2024
| caption            =  
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1959|07|22|df=y}}
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1959|07|22|df=y}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2026|01|28|1959|07|22|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Deolali Pravara]], [[Bombay State]] (now in [[Maharashtra]]), India
| death_place    = [[Baramati]], Maharashtra, India
| residence          = [[Baramati|Sahyog]], Maharashtra, India
| death_cause    = [[2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash|Aircraft accident]]
| office             = 8th [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]]
| birth_name    = Ajit Anantrao Pawar
| term_start         = 2 July 2023
| birth_place    = [[Deolali Pravara]], Bombay State, India
| term_end           =  
| office         = 8th [[List of deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra|Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]]
| governor            = [[Ramesh Bais]]
| term_start     = {{start date|2024|12|5|df=yes}}
| 1blankname          = Chief Minister
| term_end       = {{end date|2026|01|28|df=yes}}
| 1namedata          = [[Eknath Shinde]]
| alongside      = [[Eknath Shinde]]
| deputy              =  
| governor      = *[[C. P. Radhakrishnan]]
| alongside          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
*[[Acharya Devvrat]] ''(additional charge)''
| 2blankname         = [[Eknath Shinde ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1blankname    = Chief Minister
| 2namedata           = * [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
| 1namedata      = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| 2blankname     = [[Third Fadnavis ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata     = *[[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
| predecessor        =
*[[Ministry of State Excise (Maharashtra)|State Excise]]
| successor          =
*[[Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare (Maharashtra)|Sports and Youth Welfare]] ''(additional charge)''
| status1            =  
*[[Ministry of Minority Development and Aukaf (Maharashtra)|Minority Development and Aukaf]] ''(additional charge)''
| governor1          = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| predecessor    = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| term_start1        = 30 December 2019
| successor      = [[Sunetra Pawar]]
| term_end1          = 29 June 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/not-accepted-happily-sharad-pawar-on-devendra-fadnaviss-number-2-post-3116614|title=Not Accepted Happily: Sharad Pawar On Devendra Fadnavis's Number 2 Post|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
{{collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Other positions
| 1blankname1         = Chief Minister
|titlestyle      = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
| 1namedata1         = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| embed        = yes
| 2blankname1         = [[Thackeray ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| office1      = 8th [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]]
| 2namedata1         = * [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
| term_start1  = 2 July 2023
| term_end1    = 26 November 2024
| governor1    = [[Ramesh Bais]]<br/>[[C. P. Radhakrishnan]]
| 1blankname1   = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1   = Eknath Shinde
| deputy1      =
| alongside1    = Devendra Fadnavis
| 2blankname1   = [[Eknath Shinde ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata1   = *[[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
* [[Ministry of State Excise (Maharashtra)|State Excise]] ''Additional charge''
| predecessor1  = Devendra Fadnavis
| predecessor1        = Himself
| successor1    = Himself
| successor1          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| governor2    = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| term_start2        = 23 November 2019
| term_start2  = 30 December 2019
| term_end2          = 26 November 2019
| term_end2    = 29 June 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/not-accepted-happily-sharad-pawar-on-devendra-fadnaviss-number-2-post-3116614|title=Not Accepted Happily: Sharad Pawar On Devendra Fadnavis's Number 2 Post|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
| status2            =  
| 1blankname2  = Chief Minister
| 1blankname2        = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2    = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| governor2          = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| 2blankname2  = [[Thackeray ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2blankname2        = [[Second Fadnavis ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata2    = *[[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
| 2namedata2          = *Minister without Portfolio
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
| 1namedata2          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
*[[Ministry of State Excise (Maharashtra)|State Excise]] (''additional charge'')
| predecessor2        = [[President's rule]]
| predecessor2  = ''Himself''
| successor2          = Himself
| successor2    = Devendra Fadnavis
| term_start3        = 25 October 2012
| term_start3  = 23 November 2019
| term_end3          = 26 September 2014
| term_end3    = 26 November 2019
| status3            =  
| status3      =  
| 2blankname3        = [[Prithviraj Chavan ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1blankname3  = Chief Minister
| 2namedata3          = * [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
| 1namedata3    = Devendra Fadnavis
| governor3    = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| 2blankname3  = [[Second Fadnavis ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata3    = *Minister without Portfolio
| predecessor3  = [[President's rule]]
| successor3    = ''Himself''
| term_start4  = 7 December 2012
| term_end4    = 26 September 2014
| status4      =  
| 2blankname4  = [[Prithviraj Chavan ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata4    = *[[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Energy, New and Renewable Energy Maharashtra|Energy]]
*[[Ministry of Energy, New and Renewable Energy Maharashtra|Energy]]
| 1blankname3        = Chief Minister
| 1blankname4  = Chief Minister
| 1namedata3          = [[Prithviraj Chavan]]
| 1namedata4    = [[Prithviraj Chavan]]
| governor3          = *[[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
| governor4    = *[[Om Prakash Kohli]] ''(additional charge)''
| predecessor3        = Himself
*[[C. Vidyasagar Rao]]
| successor3          = [[President's rule]]
| predecessor4  = ''Himself''
| term_start4        = 10 November 2010
| successor4    = [[President's rule]]
| term_end4          = 25 September 2012
| term_start5  = 10 November 2010
| status4            =  
| term_end5    = 25 September 2012
| 1blankname4        = Chief Minister
| status5      =  
| 1namedata4          = [[Prithviraj Chavan]]
| 1blankname5  = Chief Minister
| governor4          = *[[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
| 1namedata5    = [[Prithviraj Chavan]]
| 2blankname4        = [[Prithviraj Chavan ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| governor5    = *[[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
| 2namedata4          = * [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
| 2blankname5  = [[Prithviraj Chavan ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| 2namedata5    = * [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|Finance]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Planning (Maharashtra)|Planning]]
*[[Ministry of Energy, New and Renewable Energy Maharashtra|Energy]]
*[[Ministry of Energy, New and Renewable Energy Maharashtra|Energy]]
| predecessor4        = [[Chhagan Bhujbal]]
| predecessor5  = [[Chhagan Bhujbal]]
| successor4          = Himself
| successor5    = ''Himself''
| office6             = 29th [[List of Leader of the Opposition of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Leader of the Opposition <br /> Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| office6       = 23rd [[List of Leader of the Opposition of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| governor6           = *[[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| governor6     = *[[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
*[[Ramesh Bais]]
*[[Ramesh Bais]]
| term_start6         = 04 July 2022
| term_start6   = 4 July 2022
| term_end6           = 02 July 2023
| term_end6     = 2 July 2023
| 1blankname6         = [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| 1blankname6   = [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Chief Minister]]
| 1namedata6         = [[Eknath Shinde]]
| 1namedata6   = [[Eknath Shinde]]
| 2blankname6         = [[List of speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the House]]
| 2blankname6   = [[List of speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Speaker]]
| 2namedata6         = *
| 2namedata6   = *[[Zirwal Narhari Sitaram]] ''(acting)''
*[[Zirwal Narhari Sitaram]] ''(Acting)''
*[[Rahul Narwekar]]
*[[Rahul Narwekar]]
| deputy6             = [[Balasaheb Thorat]]
| deputy6       = [[Balasaheb Thorat]]
| predecessor6       = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| predecessor6 = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| successor6         = [[Jitendra Awhad]] (Acting)
| successor6   = [[Jitendra Awhad]] ''(acting)''<br><br>[[Balasaheb Thorat]] (''additional charge'')<br>[[Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar]]
| office7             = [[List of Leaders of the House of the Maharashtra Legislative Council|Leader of the House of the <br />Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
| office7       = [[List of Leaders of the House of the Maharashtra Legislative Council|Leader of the House in Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
| governor7           = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| governor7     = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| 1blankname7         = Chairman
| 1blankname7   = Chairman
| 1namedata7         = [[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
| 1namedata7   = [[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
| 2blankname7        = Deputy Leader
| deputy7      = [[Subhash Desai]]
| 2namedata7          = [[Subhash Desai]]
| term_start7  = 24 February 2020
| termstart7          = 24 February 2020
| term_end7    = 29 June 2022
| termend7            = 29 June 2022
| predecessor7 = *[[Chandrakant Patil]]
| predecessor7       = *[[Chandrakant Patil]]
*[[Subhash Desai]] ''(acting)''
*[[Subhash Desai]] Acting
| successor7   = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| successor7         = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| term_start8   = 11 November 2010
| term_start8         = 11 November 2010
| term_end8     = 25 September 2012
| term_end8           = 25 September 2012
| governor8     = [[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
| governor8           = [[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
| 1blankname8   = Chairman
| 1blankname8         = Chairman
| 1namedata8   = [[Shivajirao Deshmukh]]
| 1namedata8         = [[Shivajirao Deshmukh]]
| predecessor8 = [[Chhagan Bhujbal]]
| predecessor8       = [[Chhagan Bhujbal]]
| successor8   = [[R. R. Patil]]
| successor8         = [[R. R. Patil]]
| office9       = [[Government of Maharashtra|Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra]]
| office9             = [[List of Deputy Leader of the House of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Deputy Leader of the House <br>Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| 2blankname9  = Chief Minister
| governor9          = [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]]
| 2namedata9    = [[Ashok Chavan]]
| 1blankname9        = [[List of speakers of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the House]]
| governor9    = *[[S. C. Jamir]]
| 1namedata9          = *[[Nana Patole]]
*[[Zirwal Narhari Sitaram]] ''(Acting)''
| 2blankname9        = [[List of Leaders of the House of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Leader of the House]]
| 2namedata9          = [[Uddhav Thackeray]]
| termstart9          = 30 December 2019
| termend9            = 29 June 2022
| predecessor9        = [[Girish Mahajan]]
| successor9          = [[Devendra Fadnavis]]
| office10            = [[Government of Maharashtra|Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra]]
| 2blankname10        = Chief Minister
| 2namedata10        = [[Ashok Chavan]]
| governor10          = *[[S. C. Jamir]]
*[[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
*[[K. Sankaranarayanan]]
| 1blankname10        = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1blankname9  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata10        = *Water Resources
| 1namedata9    = *Water Resources
*Krishna Valley Irrigation Corporation
*Krishna Valley Irrigation Corporation
*Energy
*Energy
| term_start10        = 7 November 2009
| term_start9  = 7 November 2009
| term_end10          = 10 November 2010
| term_end9    = 10 November 2010
| predecessor10      = *[[Sunil Tatkare]]  
| predecessor9  = *[[Sunil Tatkare]]
*[[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
*[[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
| successor10        = *[[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
| successor9    = *[[Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar]]
*[[Sunil Tatkare]]
*[[Sunil Tatkare]]
| 2blankname11        = Chief Minister
| 2blankname10  = Chief Minister
| 2namedata11        = [[Ashok Chavan]]
| 2namedata10  = [[Ashok Chavan]]
| governor11          = *[[S. C. Jamir]]
| governor10    = *[[S. C. Jamir]]
| 1blankname11        = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1blankname10  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata11        = *Water Resources
| 1namedata10  = *Water Resources
*Water Supply  
*Water Supply
*Sanitation Command Area Development
*Sanitation Command Area Development
| term_start11        = 08 December 2008
| term_start10  = 8 December 2008
| term_end11          = 06 November 2009
| term_end10    = 6 November 2009
| predecessor11      =  
| predecessor10 =  
| successor11        =  
| successor10  =  
| 2blankname12        = Chief Minister
| 2blankname11  = Chief Minister
| 2namedata12        = [[Vilasrao Deshmukh]]
| 2namedata11  = [[Vilasrao Deshmukh]]
| governor12          = *[[Mohammed Fazal]]
| governor11    = *[[Mohammed Fazal]]
* [[S. M. Krishna]]
*[[S. M. Krishna]]
*[[S. C. Jamir]]
*[[S. C. Jamir]]
| 1blankname12        = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1blankname11  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata12        = *Water Resources
| 1namedata11  = *Water Resources
*Excluding Krishna Valley Corporation
*Excluding Krishna Valley Corporation
| term_start12        = 09 November 2004
| term_start11  = 9 November 2004
| term_end12          = 01 December 2008
| term_end11    = 1 December 2008
| predecessor12       =  
| predecessor11 =
| successor12         =  
| successor11  =
| office13            = [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| 2blankname12  = Chief Minister
| term_start13        = 1991
| 2namedata12  = [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]
| term_end13          =  
| governor12    = *[[Mohammed Fazal]]
| predecessor13      = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| 1blankname12  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| successor13        =  
| 1namedata12  = *Horticulture
| constituency13      = [[Baramati (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Baramati]]
*Rural Development
| office14            = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
*Panchayat Raj
| constituency14      = [[Baramati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Baramati]]
| term_start12  = 18 January 2003
| term_start14        = 03 May 1991
| term_end12    = 1 November 2004
| term_end14          = 20 June 1991
| predecessor12 =  
| predecessor14      = [[Shankarrao Bajirao Patil]]
| successor12   =
| successor14        = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| 2blankname13  = Chief Minister
| party               = [[ Nationalist Congress Party ]]
| 2namedata13  = [[Vilasrao Deshmukh]]
| spouse             = Sunetra Pawar
| governor13    = *[[Mohammed Fazal]]
| children           = 2
| 1blankname13  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| website             = {{URL|http://www.ajitpawar.org}}
| 1namedata13  = *Horticulture
| footnotes           =  
*Irrigation (Krishna Valley Development)
| date               =  
*Irrigation (Konkan Valley Development)
| year               = 2019
| term_start13  = 19 October 1999
| source              =
| term_end13    = 16 January 2003
| nickname            = ''Ajit Dada''
| predecessor13 =
| native_name_lang    = mar
| successor13  =
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| office14      = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start14  = 18 November 1991
| term_end14    = 28 January 2026
| predecessor14  = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| successor14    =  
| constituency14 = [[Baramati Assembly constituency|Baramati]]
| office15      = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| constituency15 = [[Baramati Lok Sabha constituency|Baramati, Maharashtra]]
| term_start15  = 20 June 1991
| term_end15    = 18 September 1991
| predecessor15  = [[Shankarrao Bajirao Patil]]
| successor15    = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| office16      = [[Nationalist Congress Party|National President of Nationalist Congress Party]]
| predecessor16  = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| successor16    = [[Sunetra Pawar]]
| term_start16  = 2 July 2023
| term_end16    = 28 January 2026
| office17      = Minister of State in [[Government of Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]
| 2blankname17  = Chief Minister
| 2namedata17    = [[Sharad Pawar]]
| governor17    = *[[P. C. Alexander]]
| 1blankname17  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata17    = *Soil Conservation
*Power and Planning
| term_start17  = 6 March 1993
| term_end17    = 14 March 1995
| 2blankname18  = Chief Minister
| 2namedata18    = [[Sudhakarrao Naik]]
| governor18    = *[[Chidambaram Subramaniam]]
| 1blankname18  = [[Government of Maharashtra|Ministry and Departments]]
| 1namedata18    = *Agriculture
*Power
| term_start18  = 25 June 1991
| term_end18    = 22 February 1993
| party         = [[Nationalist Congress Party]]
| other_party    = [[National Democratic Alliance]] (2023–2026)<br/>[[United Progressive Alliance]] (2004–2022)
| occupation    = Politician
| spouse         = {{marriage|[[Sunetra Pawar|Sunetra Patil]]|1985}}
| children       = [[Parth Pawar]] (son)<br />Jay Pawar (son)
| relations      = [[Sharad Pawar]] (uncle)<br />
[[Pratap Govindrao Pawar]] (uncle)<br />[[Supriya Sule]] (cousin sister)<br/>[[Rohit Rajendra Pawar]] (nephew)
| nickname      = ''Dada''
| website       = {{URL|https://www.ajitpawar.org/}}
| footnotes     =  
| date           =  
| year           = 2019
}}
}}
'''Ajit Anantrao Pawar''' (Marathi pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[əd͡ʒit̪ pəʋaːɾ]]]; born 22 July 1959) is an [[Indian politician]] from [[Nationalist Congress Party]] who is serving jointly as the [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra]] with [[Devendra Fadnavis]] to the incumbent [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|CM]] [[Eknath Shinde]] since 2 July 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|title=In Ajit Pawar's Shock Switch, A Sharad Pawar Question Ahead of 2024|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawars-move-a-major-loss-of-face-for-sharad-pawar-ahead-of-2024-4170701|website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref> He served as the leader of opposition in Maharashtra legislative Assembly from 2022 to 2023 and served for a term as Lok Sabha MP from [[Baramati Lok Sabha constituency|Baramati constituency]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ajit Pawar new Opposition leader in Maharashtra assembly &#124; India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawar-new-opposition-leader-in-maharashtra-assembly/articleshow/92655380.cms |website=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 30, 2019 |title=Deputy CM for fourth time: The return of Ajit Pawar |language=en |website=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/deputy-cm-for-fourth-time-the-return-of-ajit-pawar-1632651-2019-12-30 |access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref>


He is a member of the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baramati Election Result 2019 Live: Baramati MLA Election Result & Vote Share - Oneindia|url=https://www.oneindia.com/baramati-assembly-elections-mh-201/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=oneindia.com|language=en}}</ref> representing [[Baramati (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Baramati]] constituency since 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-24|title=Baramati Vidhan Sabha Chunav Results Live Updates: बारामती में 1,65,265 वोटों से जीते एनसीपी के अजित पवार, भाजपा प्रत्याशी को हराया|url=https://www.indiatv.in/elections/maharashtra-vidhan-sabha-chunav-2019-baramati-vidhan-sabha-results-live-updates-gopichand-kundlik-padalkar-ajit-667784|access-date=2021-09-18|website=India TV Hindi|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 23, 2019|title=Surprise, surprise: Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra CM, Ajit Pawar Dy CM|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/devendra-fadnavis-maharashtra-cm-again-1621847-2019-11-23|access-date=2022-03-06|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> He is a nephew of [[Sharad Pawar]], president of the [[Nationalist Congress Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ajit Pawar appointed deputy CM, 8 other NCP MLAs take oath as ministers in Eknath Shinde government: Key developments|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawar-9-other-ncp-mlas-to-take-oath-in-shinde-government/articleshow/101432071.cms|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-11-27 |title=How Sharad Pawar outwitted his nephew Ajit |language=en |website=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/how-sharad-pawar-outwitted-his-nephew-ajit/story-7v57qtLvKZwtoL52ipwTON.html |access-date=2021-09-18}}</ref> He has been deputy chief minister of the state most number of times, currently he is serving 5th time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loksatta.com/explained/ajit-pawar-revolt-in-ncp-know-deputy-chief-minister-history-and-law-related-to-dcm-prd-96-3764288/ | title=अजित पवार पाचव्यांदा उपमुख्यमंत्री; राज्यात दोन उपमुख्यमंत्री कसे? जाणून घ्या उपमुख्यमंत्रीपदाचा इतिहास | date=3 July 2023 }}</ref>
'''Ajit Anantrao Pawar'''{{efn|{{langx|mr|अजित अनन्तराव पवार|Ajita Anantarāva Pavāra}}}} (22 July 1959 – 28 January 2026) was an Indian politician who served as [[Maharashtra]]'s longest-serving [[List of deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra|deputy chief minister]] for more than eight years, between 2010 and [[2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash|his death in 2026]], for six terms.<ref>{{Cite news|title=In Ajit Pawar's Shock Switch, A Sharad Pawar Question Ahead of 2024|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawars-move-a-major-loss-of-face-for-sharad-pawar-ahead-of-2024-4170701|website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Deshpande |first=Abhinay |date=2024-12-05 |title=Ajit Pawar breaks records as deputy CM, but his long quest for the top job remains unfulfilled |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/maharashtra-assembly/ajit-pawar-breaks-records-as-deputy-cm-but-his-long-quest-for-the-top-job-remains-unfulfilled/article68950996.ece |access-date=2025-11-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He held the office under various governments, including the cabinets of [[Prithviraj Chavan ministry|Prithviraj Chavan]], [[Chief ministership of Devendra Fadnavis|Devendra Fadnavis]], [[Thackeray ministry|Uddhav Thackeray]], and [[Eknath Shinde ministry|Eknath Shinde]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 December 2024 |title=Six-time deputy, never the CM: 'CM in waiting' Ajit Pawar's long tryst with politics |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/elections/assembly-election/maharashtra/six-time-deputy-never-the-cm-tracing-cm-in-waiting-ajit-pawar-s-long-tryst-with-politics-article-12884371.html |website=MoneyControl}}</ref>


In 2019, he took oath at dawn as Deputy Chief minister with [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] leader Devendra Fandnavis, claimed he have majority NCP MLA's support, in 3 days both resigned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ajit Pawar: पहाटेच्या शपथविधीपूर्वी काय घडलं होतं? अजित पवारांनी घटनाक्रम ... |trans-title=Ajit Pawar: What happened during oath ceremony at the dawn? timeline... |url=https://www.timesnowmarathi.com/maharashtra/ajit-pawar-explains-what-happen-at-2019-morning-oath-ceremony-with-devendra-fadnavis-watch-video-article-101514066&ved=2ahUKEwiV74Xjhvz_AhXr8TgGHRy1CvgQu7wFegQIMBAG&usg=AOvVaw0VdTIwiZkX7mDgo8ARYN7C |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=[[Times Now]] Marathi|date=5 July 2023 }}</ref> In 2023 he deserted his uncle Sharad Pawar and took oath as Deputy Chief minister in [[Eknath Shinde ministry|CM Eknath Shinde's cabinet]], this caused unprecedented [[2023 split in the Nationalist Congress Party|split in NCP]]. Ajit Pawar also claimed right on the position of NCP president, expressed desire to keep party name and its election symbol, indicated to complete overtake NCP from present chief Sharad Pawar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maharashtra NCP Ajit Pawar... |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/maharashtra-ncp-ajit-sharad-pawar-supriya-sule/amp&ved=2ahUKEwjwn7Owp_n_AhUf-DgGHaXyBx0Q0PADKAB6BAgfEAE&usg=AOvVaw3zr4C_P6CylcI3qtXBUpj6 |url-status=live |website=[[The Wire]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
He also served as the [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition]] in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] from 2022 to 2023 and represented [[Baramati Lok Sabha constituency]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ajit Pawar new Opposition leader in Maharashtra assembly &#124; India News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawar-new-opposition-leader-in-maharashtra-assembly/articleshow/92655380.cms |website=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 July 2022 }}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Pawar was born on 22 July 1959 at his grandfather's place in Deolali Pravara, [[Ahmednagar district]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ajit Aanantrao Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party):Constituency- Baramati (Pune) - Affidavit Information of Candidate|url=https://myneta.info/maharashtra2019/candidate.php?candidate_id=10610|access-date=2021-09-18|website=myneta.info}}</ref> He completed his schooling in [[Deolali]] Pravara. He hails from the village of Katevadi in [[Baramati]] taluka, Pune district. He is nephew of the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] President, [[Sharad Pawar]]. Pawar is son of [[Sharad Pawar]]'s elder brother, Anantrao Pawar. Anantrao had initially worked for renowned film maker [[V.Shantaram]]'s [[Rajkamal Kalamandir|Rajkamal Studios]] in [[Mumbai]]. Pawar's grandfather, Govindrao Pawar, was employed with Baramati Co-operative trading and his grandmother looked after the family farm.
{{See also|Political families of Maharashtra}}
Ajit Anantrao Pawar<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2024 |title='Ajit Pawar's Faction Is NCP': EC Directs Sharad Pawar To Claim A New Name |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/election-commission-ec-ajit-pawar-faction-is-real-ncp-sharad-pawar-claim-new-name-symbol |access-date= |website=[[The Quint]]}}</ref> was born on 22 July 1959 in [[Deolali Pravara]], [[Maharashtra]],<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Ajit Pawar, the power broker who dominated Maharashtra politics|url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/ajit-pawar-the-power-broker-who-dominated-maharashtra-politics/|date=28 January 2026|website=Maktoob Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Rishika |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar dies at 66: How he shaped Maharashtra politics over the decades |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dead-66-political-journey-maharashtra-politics-ncp-126012800373_1.html |website=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref> to Anantrao and Ashatai Pawar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-death-in-plane-crash-sharad-pawar-to-supriya-sule-ajit-pawars-family-tree-10904419|title=Sharad Pawar To Supriya Sule: Ajit Pawar's Family Tree|date=29 January 2026|website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref> In 1985,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Anand |date=28 January 2026 |title=Will Ajit's wife Sunetra emerge as the new Pawar centre of NCP? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-demise-news-will-sunetra-pawar-be-the-accidental-matriarch-power-centre-ncp-maharashtra-politics-2859034-2026-01-28 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> he married [[Sunetra Pawar]] (née Patil), the sister of [[Padamsinh Bajirao Patil]], a senior NCP leader.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Zeeshan |last=Shaikh |date=30 January 2026 |title=Sunetra Pawar: The reluctant politician set to carry forward husband Ajit Pawar's legacy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/sunetra-pawar-reluctant-politician-carry-forward-ajit-pawar-legacy-10503885/ |archive-date=30 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130132405/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/sunetra-pawar-reluctant-politician-carry-forward-ajit-pawar-legacy-10503885/ |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Vivek |last=Kumar |date=31 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra takes oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawars-wife-sunetra-takes-oath-as-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-first-woman-to-take-up-the-post-2860896-2026-01-31 |archive-date=31 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260131171840/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawars-wife-sunetra-takes-oath-as-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-first-woman-to-take-up-the-post-2860896-2026-01-31}}</ref> The couple had two sons, Parth and Jay Pawar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/who-is-sunetra-pawar-a-look-at-ajit-pawar-s-wife-sons-and-family-tree-101769581771918.html|title=Who is Sunetra Pawar? A look at Ajit Pawar's wife, sons and family tree|date=29 January 2026|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>


Pawar was pursuing a college degree; however, due to the death of his father, he dropped out to help take care of his family. He is educated up to Secondary school level and holds the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from the [[Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education|Maharashtra State Board]].
Pawar's grandparents were Govindrao Pawar and Shardabai Pawar.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/how-ajit-pawar-reshaped-the-pawar-dynasty-10499699/|title=How Ajit Pawar reshaped the Pawar dynasty|date=28 January 2026|website=[[The Indian Express]]|last=Shaikh|first=Zeeshan}}</ref> Shardabai was active in the [[Peasants and Workers Party of India|Peasants and Workers Party]] (PWP). In 1938, she was elected unopposed to the Pune Local Board.<ref name=":1" />
 
The couple had eleven children, including seven sons and four daughters.<ref name=":1" /> One of their sons, [[Sharad Pawar]], later became the president of the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] (NCP) and served as the four-time [[Chief Minister of Maharashtra]].<ref name=":1" />
 
Following the footsteps of his uncle [[Sharad Pawar]] in the [[Indian National Congress]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/who-is-ajit-pawar-500245 |title=Ajit Pawar |publisher=NDTV |access-date=29 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529204442/https://www.ndtv.com/people/who-is-ajit-pawar-500245 |archive-date=29 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ajit Pawar made his first foray into politics in 1982 when he was elected to the board of a [[Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra|cooperative sugar factory]]. In 1991, he was elected as the chairman of the [[Pune District Central Cooperative Bank]] and remained in the post for the next 16 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 December 2024 |title=Ajit Pawar: 'Forever deputy CM' is ultimate survivor of churning in Maharashtra politics |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ajit-pawar-forever-deputy-cm-is-ultimate-survivor-of-churning-in-maharashtra-politics/articleshow/116012008.cms??from=mdr |access-date= |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
While Pawar was pursuing his primary education at ''Deolali Pravara'', his uncle, [[Sharad Pawar]] was a rising political figure in the ruling Congress party.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/who-is-ajit-pawar-500245 |title=Ajit Pawar |publisher=NDTV |access-date=29 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529204442/https://www.ndtv.com/people/who-is-ajit-pawar-500245 |archive-date=29 May 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Pawar moved to then Bombay for more extensive education. Pawar made his foray into politics in 1982, when he was elected to the board of a [[Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra|cooperative sugar factory]]. He was elected as a chairman of the [[Pune District Central Cooperative Bank|Pune District Co-operative Bank]] (PDC) in 1991 and remained in post for 16 years. During this period he was also elected as [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha]] from the [[Baramati (Lok Sabha constituency)|Baramati]] Parliamentary Constituency. He later vacated his [[Lok Sabha]] seat in favour of his uncle, Sharad Pawar, who had then become the defence minister in [[PV Narasimha Rao]]'s government. Later, he was elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) from [[Baramati (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Baramati]] Assembly Constituency. Pawar was re-elected from the same constituency in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/baramati-stays-with-ajit-pawar/|title=Baramati stays with Ajit Pawar|work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 October 2014|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112215336/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/baramati-stays-with-ajit-pawar/|archive-date=12 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Pawar was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] for the first time in 1991 from the [[Baramati Lok Sabha constituency|Baramati Parliamentary constituency]]. He later vacated the seat for his uncle, who then became the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence Minister]] in Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]'s government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kher |first=Swatee |date=30 September 2012 |title=The angry, young Pawar |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/the-angry-young-pawar/ |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> Pawar was known for his blunt and pragmatic leadership style, nicknamed "Ajit Dada".<ref>https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dies-ajit-pawar-plane-crash-baramati-witnessed-ajit-pawars-rise-and-tragic-end-10898798</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Obituary: Ajit Pawar, the mercurial leader who stepped out of his uncle's shadow | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy82qxzge0o }}</ref>
He went on to become the Minister of State for Agriculture and Power (June 1991 - November 1992) in [[Sudhakarrao Naik]]'s government.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra|url=https://maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in/Deputy-CM-New.html|access-date=2022-01-27|website=maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in}}</ref>


He became the Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power and Planning (November 1992 - February 1993) when Sharad Pawar returned to the state as the Chief Minister. When the [[Indian National Congress]]-NCP coalition came into power in 1999, Pawar was promoted to cabinet minister in the Irrigation Department (October 1999 - December 2003) in [[Vilasrao Deshmukh]]'s government. He was given additional charge of the Rural Development Department (December 2003 - October 2004) in [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]'s government.<ref name="auto"/>
Later, he was elected to the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] seven times from the [[Baramati Assembly constituency]]. He first won in a 1991 [[by-election]] and subsequently retained it for five consecutive terms in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/baramati-stays-with-ajit-pawar/|title=Baramati stays with Ajit Pawar|work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 October 2014|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112215336/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/baramati-stays-with-ajit-pawar/|archive-date=12 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2019 |title=Baramati Vidhan Sabha Chunav Results Live Updates: बारामती में 1,65,265 वोटों से जीते एनसीपी के अजित पवार, भाजपा प्रत्याशी को हराया |url=https://www.indiatv.in/elections/maharashtra-vidhan-sabha-chunav-2019-baramati-vidhan-sabha-results-live-updates-gopichand-kundlik-padalkar-ajit-667784 |access-date=18 September 2021 |website=India TV Hindi |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2019 |title=Surprise, surprise: Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra CM, Ajit Pawar Dy CM |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/devendra-fadnavis-maharashtra-cm-again-1621847-2019-11-23 |access-date=6 March 2022 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> He served as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Power in CM [[Sudhakarrao Naik]]'s government from 1991 to 1992.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra|url=https://maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in/Deputy-CM-New.html|access-date=27 January 2022|website=maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in}}</ref>
When Congress-NCP combination returned to power in 2004, he retained the Water Resources Ministry in Deshmukh's government and later in [[Ashok Chavan]]'s government.


On 23 November 2019, Pawar was sworn as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra State with BJP without his party's consent. He submitted paper with signatures of NCP MLAs to Governor of State. He was on the post for less than 80 hours, becoming Deputy CM with the shortest tenure in [[Devendra Fadnavis]] led government. On 1 December 2019, it was announced that Pawar would take over as Deputy Chief Minister for the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] administration after the commencement of the winter session of the state legislature on 16 December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ajit-pawar-to-be-deputy-cm-after-winter-session-begins/articleshow/72326204.cms|title=Ajit Pawar to be deputy CM after winter session begins|date=2 December 2019|first=Prafulla|last=Marpakwar|newspaper=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
He became the Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power and Planning in 1992 when Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister. In [[1999 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1999]], as part of the INC-NCP coalition government, he became a Cabinet Minister responsible for the Irrigation Department. He was additionally given the Rural Development Department in 2003 as part of [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]'s cabinet.<ref name="auto"/> After the INC-NCP coalition won in the [[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2004 Assembly elections]], he retained the Water Resources Ministry in Deshmukh's and later [[Ashok Chavan]]'s cabinets.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=PTI |date=7 March 2024 |title=People facing draft charges can join BJP and get clean, the party is 'washing machine' : Sharad Pawar |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Mar/07/people-facing-draft-charges-can-join-bjp-and-get-clean-the-party-is-washing-machine-sharad-pawar |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>


In 2022, due to the [[2022 Maharashtra political crisis |Shiv sena got divided]], the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] government collapsed due to internal revolt in [[Shiv Sena]]. After the rebel Shiv Sena group and BJP formed the government with [[Eknath Shinde]] as the Chief Minister, Pawar became the Leader of the Opposition in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]].  
Ajit Pawar has gained extensive experience in the administration of Maharashtra by working in various important positions. In particular, as Deputy Chief Minister, he played an important role in the administration of the state many times. As Finance Minister, he also had experience in handling the state budget. He also accelerated the implementation of many major projects while working in the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. This experience gave him a strong grip on the decision-making process in the administration and his ability to give impetus to development works is evident in his leadership.


===Rebellion against Sharad Pawar===
== Leader of Nationalist Congress Party ==
=== Rebellion against Sharad Pawar ===
{{Main|2023 Maharashtra political crisis}}
{{Main|2023 Maharashtra political crisis}}
On 2 July 2023, Ajit Pawar [[2023 Maharashtra political crisis|again sworn in as Deputy CM]] in the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government of Chief Minister [[Eknath Shinde]]. Pawar's action is believed to have been caused due to his displeasure with not getting a post {{Which|date=July 2023}}in party, unlike [[Supriya Sule]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawars-move-a-major-loss-of-face-for-sharad-pawar-ahead-of-2024-4170701 | title=In Ajit Pawar's Shock Switch, A Sharad Pawar Question Ahead of 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajit-pawar-9-other-ncp-mlas-to-take-oath-in-shinde-government/articleshow/101432071.cms | title=Ajit Pawar appointed deputy CM, 8 other NCP MLAs take oath as ministers in Eknath Shinde government: Key developments | newspaper=The Times of India | date=2 July 2023 }}</ref> {{Verify source|date=July 2023}}He said he have support of many MLA of NCP, due to it NCP got divided in two factions between loyalist of his uncle-NCP president Sharad Pawar and his (Ajit Pawar) supporters. Later Ajit Pawar claimed himself as the president of NCP, indicated to takeover entire party from his uncle Sharad Pawar. He also claimed on party name, symbol and said his faction is real NCP. Most of the powerful NCP politicians such as [[Chhagan Bhujbal]], [[Sunil Tatkare]] have joined his faction thus creating politicall rebellion similar to [[2022 Maharashtra political crisis|2022 crisis]], when Eknath Shinde who is now incumbent Chief minister of Maharashtra successfully overtook nearly entire Shiv sena party from its founder's son- president [[Uddhav Thackeray]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=A. Deputy... Maharashtra |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ajit-pawar-deputy-chief-minister-maharashtra-ncp-july-2-2023/article67033757.ece/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjH9ondqfn_AhWpTGwGHURFBCo4FBAWegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1bBtPQzge7PXeEtD_zC3CR |url-status=live |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Hindu| date=2 July 2023 }}</ref>


In his faction's first assembly, Ajit Pawar alleged his uncle Sharad Pawar for his biased behaviour towards his daughter [[Supriya Sule]], double standards, insulting him, hypocrisy and urged him to retire from politics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ajit Pawar Claims He Has 29 MLAs, Asks Sharad, 'When Are You Going to Stop?' |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/maharashtra-ncp-ajit-sharad-pawar-supriya-sule/amp&ved=2ahUKEwjwn7Owp_n_AhUf-DgGHaXyBx0Q0PADKAB6BAgfEAE&usg=AOvVaw3zr4C_P6CylcI3qtXBUpj6 |url-status=live |website=[[The Wire]]}}</ref>
On 23 November 2019, he defected from NCP and joined a government led by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and became the [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Deputy Chief Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tirodkar |first=Amey |date=12 July 2023 |title=Tough times ahead for Sharad Pawar after BJP lures away Ajit Pawar in NCP split |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/tough-times-ahead-for-sharad-pawar-after-bjp-lures-away-ajit-pawar-in-ncp-split/article67053068.ece |access-date=12 October 2024 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2023 |title=Ajit Pawar: पहाटेच्या शपथविधीपूर्वी काय घडलं होतं? अजित पवारांनी घटनाक्रम ... |trans-title=Ajit Pawar: What happened during oath ceremony at the dawn? timeline... |url=https://www.timesnowmarathi.com/maharashtra/ajit-pawar-explains-what-happen-at-2019-morning-oath-ceremony-with-devendra-fadnavis-watch-video-article-101514066&ved=2ahUKEwiV74Xjhvz_AhXr8TgGHRy1CvgQu7wFegQIMBAG&usg=AOvVaw0VdTIwiZkX7mDgo8ARYN7C |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=[[Times Now]] Marathi}}</ref> He submitted a paper with the signatures of NCP's MLAs to the [[Governor (India)|Governor]] to prove the government's majority. However, the government collapsed less than 80 hours later and he resigned alongside then-CM [[Devendra Fadnavis]]. He subsequently returned to the NCP, and on 1 December 2019, it was announced that he would take over as Deputy CM for the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] government after the start of the winter session of the state legislature on 16 December.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ajit-pawar-to-be-deputy-cm-after-winter-session-begins/articleshow/72326204.cms|title=Ajit Pawar to be deputy CM after winter session begins|date=2 December 2019|first=Prafulla|last=Marpakwar|newspaper=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref>
 
In 2022, due to [[2022 Maharashtra political crisis#Initial Breakout|a split in the Shiv Sena]], the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] government collapsed. After the rebel Shiv Sena faction and BJP formed a government with [[Eknath Shinde]] as CM, Pawar became the Leader of the Opposition in the [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vyas |first=Sharad |date=23 November 2019 |title=Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister after Ajit Pawar ditches uncle Sharad Pawar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/devendra-fadnavis-takes-oath-as-maharashtra-cm-ajit-pawar-as-deputy-cm/article61615444.ece |access-date=26 November 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
===2023 party split===
In 2023, having the support of the majority of the erstwhile NCP's MLAs, he also claimed the position of president of the NCP, as well as the party's name and its [[electoral symbol]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maharashtra NCP Ajit Pawar... |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/maharashtra-ncp-ajit-sharad-pawar-supriya-sule/amp%26ved%3D2ahUKEwjwn7Owp_n_AhUf-DgGHaXyBx0Q0PADKAB6BAgfEAE%26usg%3DAOvVaw3zr4C_P6CylcI3qtXBUpj6 |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |access-date=6 July 2023 |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162323/https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/maharashtra-ncp-ajit-sharad-pawar-supriya-sule/amp%26ved%3D2ahUKEwjwn7Owp_n_AhUf-DgGHaXyBx0Q0PADKAB6BAgfEAE%26usg%3DAOvVaw3zr4C_P6CylcI3qtXBUpj6 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2 July 2023 |title=A. Deputy... Maharashtra |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ajit-pawar-deputy-chief-minister-maharashtra-ncp-july-2-2023/article67033757.ece |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> Pawar joined the ruling [[Maha Yuti]] coalition and took the oath as deputy CM of the state on 2 July. On 7 February 2024, the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission Of India (ECI)]] awarded the party name and symbol to the [[Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar)|faction]] headed by Ajit. The faction led by Sharad Pawar will be henceforth known as [[Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |title=Sharad Pawar faction gets new name day after Ajit camp declared 'real' NCP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nationalist-congress-party-sharadchandra-pawar-ncp-9149260/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=Express News service |location=New Delhi}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Despite his faction being routed in the [[2024 Indian general election in Maharashtra|2024 Lok Sabha election]], his NCP placed in third in the [[2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2024 Legislative Assembly election]], with the Maha Yuti alliance forming a landslide majority government; Pawar was again sworn-in as deputy chief minister in December, tasked with portfolios such as [[Ministry of Finance (Maharashtra)|finance]]. The party also performed well in the [[2025–26 Maharashtra local elections]]. Months before his death, reconciliation talks between the two NCP parties were reportedly occurring.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ajit Pawar: Grief and shock over politician's death in plane crash | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98prmd0jl0o }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Who was Ajit Pawar, the Indian politician killed in plane crash? | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/28/who-was-ajit-pawar-the-indian-politician-killed-in-plane-crash }}</ref> His wife, [[Rajya Sabha]] MP [[Sunetra Pawar]], succeeded him as the deputy chief minister.


==Controversies==
==Death==
{{controversy section|date=June 2022}}
{{Main|2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash}}
There are allegations that, as the minister for water resources, he spared no efforts to help in the development of [[Lavasa]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/33283 |title=Lavasa's journey downhill |publisher=Down To Earth |date=15 April 2011 |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703211319/http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/33283 |archive-date=3 July 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> a project touted as a "vision of Sharad Pawar". The ''Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporatio''n (MKVDC) leased {{convert|141.15|ha|abbr=on}} to Lavasa in August 2002, which included part of the Warasgaon dam reservoir. The lease between MKVDC and Lavasa was executed at rates far below the market rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/33282 |title=Lavasa exposed |publisher=Down To Earth |date=15 April 2011 |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501192046/http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/33282 |archive-date=1 May 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>


He told the Indian Election Commission in 2004 that he had financial assets of more than 3&nbsp;crore Rupees at that time.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
On 28 January 2026, at approximately 08:44 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+5:30]]), a business jet carrying Pawar on an air charter flight from [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]] in [[Mumbai]] to [[Baramati Airport]] in [[Maharashtra]] crashed while attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport Runway 11. The aircraft veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of Pawar and four others on board.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar: Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state dies in plane crash |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98prmd0jl0o |access-date=28 January 2026 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar's Flight Crash in Baramati dist Pune |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtRr4dlpFs |publisher=[[CNN-News18]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-ajit-pawar-dies-in-horrific-plane-crash-near-baramati-a-a301/ |title=Ajit Pawar Passed Away: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister dies in plane crash near Baramati |work=[[Lokmat]] |date=28 January 2026 |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Air charter crash in India's Maharashtra kills key state leader |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/deputy-chief-minister-indias-maharashtra-dies-plane-crash-tv-channels-say-2026-01-28/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teluguvaaditv.com/2026/01/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-death-rumours-fact-check.html |title=Ajit Anantrao Pawar (1959–2026): Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Passes Away |website=Telugu Vaadi TV |date=28 January 2025 |access-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128100827/https://www.teluguvaaditv.com/2026/01/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-death-rumours-fact-check.html |archive-date=28 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref>


In September 2012, there were accusations that there had been misappropriation of funds amounting to {{INR}} 70,000&nbsp;Crores. These allegations were made by the Maharashtra bureaucrat, [[Vijay Pandhare]], and caused [[Anjali Damania]] to request Pawar's resignation as a minister. However, the allegations were not proven, and he was successfully reinstated as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/ajit-pawar-to-return-as-maharashtra-deputy-chief-minister-112120605099_1.html|title= Ajit Pawar reinstated |newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-11-24|date= 6 December 2012 }}</ref>
The aircraft was a 16-year-old [[Learjet 45|Learjet 45XR]], registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Aviation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra deputy CM dies in Baramati crash, DGCA confirms |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-news-live-updates-plane-crash-maharashtra-deputy-cm-health-baramati-latest-news-101769572584405.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=VT-SSK – Learjet 45XR |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vt-ssk |publisher=[[Flightradar24]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref>


On 7 April 2013, Pawar in an attempt at being comical about his inability to bring waters to the dams, made a controversial statement in a speech at [[Indapur]]. Activists were fasting for 55 days in Maharashtra, against the Maharashtra government and their incompetence of not providing relief in the form of water to citizens suffering from the drought. In response to this, in a speech at large crowd gathering, Pawar stated: "If there is no water in the dam ... Should I urinate into it?". Due to the political and media pressure, he publicly apologized for the statement, admitting that the comment was the biggest mistake of his life.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 April 2013 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-08/india/38372423_1_ajit-pawar-crass-humour-deputy-cm |title=Ajit Pawar apologizes again, says 'this is biggest mistake of my life' |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601065447/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-08/india/38372423_1_ajit-pawar-crass-humour-deputy-cm |archive-date=1 June 2013 |url-status=dead |work=[[The Times of India]] |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
At the time of the incident, Pawar was travelling to [[Baramati]] to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming [[District council (India)|Zilla Parishad]] elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wable |first=Omkar |date=28 January 2026 |title=Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in plane crash in Baramati: What we know so far |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/plane-carrying-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-crashes-during-landing-more-details-awaited-2858806-2026-01-28 |website=[[India Today]] |access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref> The Maharashtra government declared a three-day state of mourning following his death; his funeral was held in Baramati on 29 January, with full state honours. His body was [[cremated]].<ref>{{cite web | title=State mourning after Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: Are banks in Maharashtra closed on Thursday? | work=The Times of India | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/state-mourning-after-ajit-pawar-dies-in-plane-crash-are-banks-in-maharashtra-closed-tomorrow-on-january-29-2026/articleshow/127712489.cms }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Ellis-Petersen | first1=Hannah | title=Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash, leaving power vacuum | work=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/29/ajit-pawar-indian-politician-killed-in-plane-crash }}</ref>
 
== Electoral history ==
 
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+Election candidature history
|-
! |Election
! |Year
! colspan = "2" |Party
! |Constituency
! colspan = "3" |Opponent
! |Result
! |Margin
|-
|[[Lok Sabha]]
|[[1991 Indian general election|1991]]<ref>https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4121-general-election-1991-vol-i-ii/?do=download&r=9764&confirm=1&t=1&csrfKey=6fdbcc3fe6a2e2fce996db3722892e72</ref>
|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Baramati Lok Sabha constituency|Baramati]]
|{{party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
||[[Kanta Nalawade]]
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|336,831}}
|-
|rowspan = "8"|[[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
|[[1991 elections in India#Maharashtra|1991^]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/2511-details-of-bye-elections-from-1952-to-1995/ |title=Details of Bye Elections from 1952 to 1995 |access-date=21 December 2025 |website=old.eci.gov.in |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] }}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|rowspan = "8"|[[Baramati Assembly constituency|Baramati]]
|{{party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| K.H.Khanderao
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|86,915}}
|-
|[[1995 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1995]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1995 to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1995/StatisticalReport-MH95.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120117121534/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1995/StatisticalReport-MH95.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|{{party name with color|Independent politician|shortname=IND}}
| Kakade Ratanrao Bhagwanrao
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|77,335}}
|-
|[[1999 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|1999]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1999/StatisticalReport-MH99.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120117044316/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1999/StatisticalReport-MH99.pdf|archive-date=17 January 2012}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Independent politician|shortname=IND}}
| Taware Chandrarao Krishnarao
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|50,366}}
|-
|[[2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2004]]<ref>{{cite web | title=IndiaVotes AC: Maharashtra 2004 | url=https://www.indiavotes.com/vidhan-sabha/2004/maharashtra/177/30 }}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Shiv Sena}}
| Popatrao Mansingrao Tupe
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|66,157}}
|-
|[[2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2009]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Chief Eletoral Officer, [[Maharashtra]]|title=General Elections to State Legislative Assembly 2009 |url=https://ceoelection.maharashtra.gov.in/pdff/vidhanresult.pdf|archive-url= http://web.archive.org/web/20240708005931/https://ceoelection.maharashtra.gov.in/pdff/vidhanresult.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2024}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Independent politician|shortname=IND}}
| Taware Ranjankumar Shankarrao
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|102,797}}
|-
|[[2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2014]]<ref name="election2014">{{cite web |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/11699-maharashtra-legislative-assembly-election-2014/ |title=Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election, 2014 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date= 2 February 2022 |url-access=limited}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| Prabhakar Dadaram Gawade
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|89,792}}
|-
|[[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/partywiseresult-S13.htm?st=S13|title=General Election to Vidhan Sabha Trends & Results Oct-2019|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121065754/http://results.eci.gov.in/ACOCT2019/partywiseresult-S13.htm?st=S13|archive-date=21 November 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| [[Gopichand Padalkar]]
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|165,265}}
|-
|[[2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2024]]<ref name="Maharashtra Elections 2024: 14 candidates win by over 1 lakh votes, all from Mahayuti">{{cite news |last1=CNBCTV18 |date=23 November 2024 |title=Maharashtra Elections 2024: 14 candidates win by over 1 lakh votes, all from Mahayuti |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/politics/maharashtra-elections-2024-14-candidates-win-1-lakh-vote-margin-mahayuti-19513783.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127053121/https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/politics/maharashtra-elections-2024-14-candidates-win-1-lakh-vote-margin-mahayuti-19513783.htm |archive-date=27 November 2024 |access-date=27 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Maharashtra election results: These candidates have won by biggest margins so far">{{cite news |last1=Hindustantimes |date=23 November 2024 |title=Maharashtra election results: These candidates have won by biggest margins so far |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtra-election-results-these-candidates-have-won-by-biggest-margins-so-far-101732376089333.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124125058/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtra-election-results-these-candidates-have-won-by-biggest-margins-so-far-101732376089333.html |archive-date=24 November 2024 |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref><ref name="Maharashtra Assembly election results 2024 {{!}} Who won in Pune?">{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1=Sruthi |date=23 November 2024 |title=Maharashtra Assembly election results 2024 {{!}} Who won in Pune? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/maharashtra-assembly/maharashtra-assembly-election-results-2024-who-won-in-pune/article68901246.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124060803/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/maharashtra-assembly/maharashtra-assembly-election-results-2024-who-won-in-pune/article68901246.ece |archive-date=24 November 2024 |access-date=12 December 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party}}
|{{party name with color|Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar}}
|Yugendra Pawar
|{{yes2|Won}}
|{{yes2|100,899}}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
=== Explanatory notes ===
{{Notelist}}
 
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*
{{Commons}}
* {{Official|https://www.ajitpawar.org/}}
* {{Official website|https://www.ajitpawar.org/}}
 


{{Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra}}
{{Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Politics|India}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pawar, Ajit}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pawar, Ajit}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2026 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Ahmednagar district]]
[[Category:Corruption in India]]
[[Category:People from Baramati]]
[[Category:Corruption in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian politicians convicted of corruption]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Nationalist Congress Party politicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1990–1995]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1990–1995]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1995–1999]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1995–1999]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Maharashtra MLAs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Nationalist Congress Party politicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:People from Ahmednagar district]]
[[Category:People from Baramati]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2026]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in India]]

Latest revision as of 08:24, 30 April 2026


Ajit Pawar
Pawar in 2024
8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra
In office
5 December 2024 (2024-12-05) – 28 January 2026 (2026-01-28)
Serving with Eknath Shinde
Governor
Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byDevendra Fadnavis
Succeeded bySunetra Pawar
Other positions
8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra
In office
2 July 2023 – 26 November 2024
Serving with Devendra Fadnavis
GovernorRamesh Bais
C. P. Radhakrishnan
Chief MinisterEknath Shinde
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byDevendra Fadnavis
Succeeded byHimself
In office
30 December 2019 – 29 June 2022[1]
GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byDevendra Fadnavis
In office
23 November 2019 – 26 November 2019
GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis
Ministry and Departments
  • Minister without Portfolio
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byHimself
In office
7 December 2012 – 26 September 2014
Governor
Chief MinisterPrithviraj Chavan
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byPresident's rule
In office
10 November 2010 – 25 September 2012
Governor
Chief MinisterPrithviraj Chavan
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byChhagan Bhujbal
Succeeded byHimself
23rd Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office
4 July 2022 – 2 July 2023
Governor
DeputyBalasaheb Thorat
Chief MinisterEknath Shinde
Speaker
Preceded byDevendra Fadnavis
Succeeded byJitendra Awhad (acting)

Balasaheb Thorat (additional charge)
Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar
Leader of the House in Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
24 February 2020 – 29 June 2022
GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari
DeputySubhash Desai
ChairmanRamraje Naik Nimbalkar
Preceded by
Succeeded byDevendra Fadnavis
In office
11 November 2010 – 25 September 2012
GovernorK. Sankaranarayanan
ChairmanShivajirao Deshmukh
Preceded byChhagan Bhujbal
Succeeded byR. R. Patil
Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra
In office
7 November 2009 – 10 November 2010
Governor
Ministry and Departments
  • Water Resources
  • Krishna Valley Irrigation Corporation
  • Energy
Chief MinisterAshok Chavan
Preceded by
Succeeded by
In office
8 December 2008 – 6 November 2009
Governor
Ministry and Departments
  • Water Resources
  • Water Supply
  • Sanitation Command Area Development
Chief MinisterAshok Chavan
In office
9 November 2004 – 1 December 2008
Governor
Ministry and Departments
  • Water Resources
  • Excluding Krishna Valley Corporation
Chief MinisterVilasrao Deshmukh
In office
18 January 2003 – 1 November 2004
Governor
Ministry and Departments
  • Horticulture
  • Rural Development
  • Panchayat Raj
Chief MinisterSushilkumar Shinde
In office
19 October 1999 – 16 January 2003
Governor
Ministry and Departments
  • Horticulture
  • Irrigation (Krishna Valley Development)
  • Irrigation (Konkan Valley Development)
Chief MinisterVilasrao Deshmukh
Succeeded by
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
In office
18 November 1991 – 28 January 2026
Preceded bySharad Pawar
ConstituencyBaramati
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
20 June 1991 – 18 September 1991
Preceded byShankarrao Bajirao Patil
Succeeded bySharad Pawar
ConstituencyBaramati, Maharashtra
National President of Nationalist Congress Party
In office
2 July 2023 – 28 January 2026
Preceded bySharad Pawar
Succeeded bySunetra Pawar
Personal details
Born
Ajit Anantrao Pawar

(1959-07-22)22 July 1959
Deolali Pravara, Bombay State, India
Died28 January 2026(2026-01-28) (aged 66)
Baramati, Maharashtra, India
Cause of deathAircraft accident
Political partyNationalist Congress Party
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1985)
RelationsSharad Pawar (uncle)
Pratap Govindrao Pawar (uncle)
Supriya Sule (cousin sister)
Rohit Rajendra Pawar (nephew)
ChildrenParth Pawar (son)
Jay Pawar (son)
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.ajitpawar.org
Nickname(s)Dada

Ajit Anantrao Pawar[lower-alpha 1] (22 July 1959 – 28 January 2026) was an Indian politician who served as Maharashtra's longest-serving deputy chief minister for more than eight years, between 2010 and his death in 2026, for six terms.[2][3] He held the office under various governments, including the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.[4]

He also served as the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 2022 to 2023 and represented Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in 1991.[5]

Early life[edit | edit source]

See also: Political families of Maharashtra

Ajit Anantrao Pawar[6] was born on 22 July 1959 in Deolali Pravara, Maharashtra,[7][8] to Anantrao and Ashatai Pawar.[9] In 1985,[10] he married Sunetra Pawar (née Patil), the sister of Padamsinh Bajirao Patil, a senior NCP leader.[11][12] The couple had two sons, Parth and Jay Pawar.[13]

Pawar's grandparents were Govindrao Pawar and Shardabai Pawar.[14] Shardabai was active in the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP). In 1938, she was elected unopposed to the Pune Local Board.[14]

The couple had eleven children, including seven sons and four daughters.[14] One of their sons, Sharad Pawar, later became the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and served as the four-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra.[14]

Following the footsteps of his uncle Sharad Pawar in the Indian National Congress,[15] Ajit Pawar made his first foray into politics in 1982 when he was elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory. In 1991, he was elected as the chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank and remained in the post for the next 16 years.[16]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Pawar was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from the Baramati Parliamentary constituency. He later vacated the seat for his uncle, who then became the Defence Minister in Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao's government.[17] Pawar was known for his blunt and pragmatic leadership style, nicknamed "Ajit Dada".[18][19]

Later, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seven times from the Baramati Assembly constituency. He first won in a 1991 by-election and subsequently retained it for five consecutive terms in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014.[20][21][22] He served as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Power in CM Sudhakarrao Naik's government from 1991 to 1992.[23]

He became the Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power and Planning in 1992 when Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister. In 1999, as part of the INC-NCP coalition government, he became a Cabinet Minister responsible for the Irrigation Department. He was additionally given the Rural Development Department in 2003 as part of Sushilkumar Shinde's cabinet.[23] After the INC-NCP coalition won in the 2004 Assembly elections, he retained the Water Resources Ministry in Deshmukh's and later Ashok Chavan's cabinets.[24]

Ajit Pawar has gained extensive experience in the administration of Maharashtra by working in various important positions. In particular, as Deputy Chief Minister, he played an important role in the administration of the state many times. As Finance Minister, he also had experience in handling the state budget. He also accelerated the implementation of many major projects while working in the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. This experience gave him a strong grip on the decision-making process in the administration and his ability to give impetus to development works is evident in his leadership.

Leader of Nationalist Congress Party[edit | edit source]

Rebellion against Sharad Pawar[edit | edit source]

Main article: 2023 Maharashtra political crisis

On 23 November 2019, he defected from NCP and joined a government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and became the Deputy Chief Minister.[25][26] He submitted a paper with the signatures of NCP's MLAs to the Governor to prove the government's majority. However, the government collapsed less than 80 hours later and he resigned alongside then-CM Devendra Fadnavis. He subsequently returned to the NCP, and on 1 December 2019, it was announced that he would take over as Deputy CM for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government after the start of the winter session of the state legislature on 16 December.[27]

In 2022, due to a split in the Shiv Sena, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed. After the rebel Shiv Sena faction and BJP formed a government with Eknath Shinde as CM, Pawar became the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.[28]

2023 party split[edit | edit source]

In 2023, having the support of the majority of the erstwhile NCP's MLAs, he also claimed the position of president of the NCP, as well as the party's name and its electoral symbol.[29][30] Pawar joined the ruling Maha Yuti coalition and took the oath as deputy CM of the state on 2 July. On 7 February 2024, the Election Commission Of India (ECI) awarded the party name and symbol to the faction headed by Ajit. The faction led by Sharad Pawar will be henceforth known as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).[31][30] Despite his faction being routed in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, his NCP placed in third in the 2024 Legislative Assembly election, with the Maha Yuti alliance forming a landslide majority government; Pawar was again sworn-in as deputy chief minister in December, tasked with portfolios such as finance. The party also performed well in the 2025–26 Maharashtra local elections. Months before his death, reconciliation talks between the two NCP parties were reportedly occurring.[32][33] His wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, succeeded him as the deputy chief minister.

Death[edit | edit source]

Main article: 2026 Baramati Learjet 45 crash

On 28 January 2026, at approximately 08:44 IST (UTC+5:30), a business jet carrying Pawar on an air charter flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Baramati Airport in Maharashtra crashed while attempting a second approach to Baramati Airport Runway 11. The aircraft veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of Pawar and four others on board.[34][35][36][37][38]

The aircraft was a 16-year-old Learjet 45XR, registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Aviation.[39][40]

At the time of the incident, Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.[41] The Maharashtra government declared a three-day state of mourning following his death; his funeral was held in Baramati on 29 January, with full state honours. His body was cremated.[42][43]

Electoral history[edit | edit source]

Election candidature history
Election Year Party Constituency Opponent Result Margin
Lok Sabha 1991[44] INC Baramati BJP Kanta Nalawade Won 336,831
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 1991^[45] INC Baramati BJP K.H.Khanderao Won 86,915
1995[46] INC Independent Kakade Ratanrao Bhagwanrao Won 77,335
1999[47] NCP Independent Taware Chandrarao Krishnarao Won 50,366
2004[48] NCP SHS Popatrao Mansingrao Tupe Won 66,157
2009[49] NCP Independent Taware Ranjankumar Shankarrao Won 102,797
2014[50] NCP BJP Prabhakar Dadaram Gawade Won 89,792
2019[51] NCP BJP Gopichand Padalkar Won 165,265
2024[52][53][54] NCP Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar Yugendra Pawar Won 100,899

References[edit | edit source]

Explanatory notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Not Accepted Happily: Sharad Pawar On Devendra Fadnavis's Number 2 Post". NDTV.com.
  2. ↑ "In Ajit Pawar's Shock Switch, A Sharad Pawar Question Ahead of 2024". NDTV.
  3. ↑ Deshpande, Abhinay (5 December 2024). "Ajit Pawar breaks records as deputy CM, but his long quest for the top job remains unfulfilled". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Six-time deputy, never the CM: 'CM in waiting' Ajit Pawar's long tryst with politics". MoneyControl. 5 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ajit Pawar new Opposition leader in Maharashtra assembly | India News". The Times of India. 4 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "'Ajit Pawar's Faction Is NCP': EC Directs Sharad Pawar To Claim A New Name". The Quint. 6 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ajit Pawar, the power broker who dominated Maharashtra politics". Maktoob Media. 28 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Agarwal, Rishika (28 January 2026). "Ajit Pawar dies at 66: How he shaped Maharashtra politics over the decades". Business Standard.
  9. ↑ "Sharad Pawar To Supriya Sule: Ajit Pawar's Family Tree". NDTV. 29 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Singh, Anand (28 January 2026). "Will Ajit's wife Sunetra emerge as the new Pawar centre of NCP?". India Today.
  11. ↑ Shaikh, Zeeshan (30 January 2026). "Sunetra Pawar: The reluctant politician set to carry forward husband Ajit Pawar's legacy". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Kumar, Vivek (31 January 2026). "Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra takes oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister". Archived from the original on 31 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Who is Sunetra Pawar? A look at Ajit Pawar's wife, sons and family tree". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2026.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Shaikh, Zeeshan (28 January 2026). "How Ajit Pawar reshaped the Pawar dynasty". The Indian Express.
  15. ↑ "Ajit Pawar". NDTV. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ajit Pawar: 'Forever deputy CM' is ultimate survivor of churning in Maharashtra politics". The Economic Times. 5 December 2024. ISSN 0013-0389.
  17. ↑ Kher, Swatee (30 September 2012). "The angry, young Pawar". The Indian Express.
  18. ↑ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-dies-ajit-pawar-plane-crash-baramati-witnessed-ajit-pawars-rise-and-tragic-end-10898798
  19. ↑ "Obituary: Ajit Pawar, the mercurial leader who stepped out of his uncle's shadow".
  20. ↑ "Baramati stays with Ajit Pawar". The Indian Express. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Baramati Vidhan Sabha Chunav Results Live Updates: बारामती में 1,65,265 वोटों से जीते एनसीपी के अजित पवार, भाजपा प्रत्याशी को हराया". India TV Hindi (in हिन्दी). 24 October 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Surprise, surprise: Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra CM, Ajit Pawar Dy CM". India Today. 23 November 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra". maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "People facing draft charges can join BJP and get clean, the party is 'washing machine' : Sharad Pawar". The New Indian Express. PTI. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  25. ↑ Tirodkar, Amey (12 July 2023). "Tough times ahead for Sharad Pawar after BJP lures away Ajit Pawar in NCP split". Frontline. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  26. ↑ "Ajit Pawar: पहाटेच्या शपथविधीपूर्वी काय घडलं होतं? अजित पवारांनी घटनाक्रम ..." [Ajit Pawar: What happened during oath ceremony at the dawn? timeline...]. Times Now Marathi. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  27. ↑ Marpakwar, Prafulla (2 December 2019). "Ajit Pawar to be deputy CM after winter session begins". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  28. ↑ Vyas, Sharad (23 November 2019). "Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister after Ajit Pawar ditches uncle Sharad Pawar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "Maharashtra NCP Ajit Pawar..." The Wire. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "A. Deputy... Maharashtra". The Hindu. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "Sharad Pawar faction gets new name day after Ajit camp declared 'real' NCP". Express News service. New Delhi. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  32. ↑ "Ajit Pawar: Grief and shock over politician's death in plane crash".
  33. ↑ "Who was Ajit Pawar, the Indian politician killed in plane crash?".
  34. ↑ "Ajit Pawar: Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state dies in plane crash". www.bbc.com. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  35. ↑ "Ajit Pawar's Flight Crash in Baramati dist Pune". CNN-News18. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  36. ↑ "Ajit Pawar Passed Away: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister dies in plane crash near Baramati". Lokmat. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "Air charter crash in India's Maharashtra kills key state leader". Reuters. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "Ajit Anantrao Pawar (1959–2026): Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Passes Away". Telugu Vaadi TV. 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  39. ↑ "Ajit Pawar death news updates: Maharashtra deputy CM dies in Baramati crash, DGCA confirms". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  40. ↑ "VT-SSK – Learjet 45XR". Flightradar24. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  41. ↑ Wable, Omkar (28 January 2026). "Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in plane crash in Baramati: What we know so far". India Today. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  42. ↑ "State mourning after Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: Are banks in Maharashtra closed on Thursday?". The Times of India.
  43. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah. "Veteran Indian politician Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash, leaving power vacuum". The Guardian.
  44. ↑ https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4121-general-election-1991-vol-i-ii/?do=download&r=9764&confirm=1&t=1&csrfKey=6fdbcc3fe6a2e2fce996db3722892e72
  45. ↑ "Details of Bye Elections from 1952 to 1995". old.eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  46. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1995 to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2012.
  47. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2012.
  48. ↑ "IndiaVotes AC: Maharashtra 2004".
  49. ↑ "General Elections to State Legislative Assembly 2009" (PDF). Chief Eletoral Officer, Maharashtra. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2024.
  50. ↑ "Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election, 2014". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  51. ↑ "General Election to Vidhan Sabha Trends & Results Oct-2019". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  52. ↑ CNBCTV18 (23 November 2024). "Maharashtra Elections 2024: 14 candidates win by over 1 lakh votes, all from Mahayuti". Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  53. ↑ Hindustantimes (23 November 2024). "Maharashtra election results: These candidates have won by biggest margins so far". Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  54. ↑ The Hindu, Sruthi (23 November 2024). "Maharashtra Assembly election results 2024 | Who won in Pune?". Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]

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