'Macho man' to 'mimicry man': Why Ajit Pawar is Maharashtra’s most complex political figure

The elderly in Baramati still remember a young Ajit Pawar hacking his way in the crowded streets of the town on his Rajdoot motorcycle. The two wheeler was his favourite mode of his transport to connect with the locals. Three decades later, he has emerged as a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics and many in the political corridors refer to him as "CM in waiting." Ajit Pawar is often described by various labels: a strong leader, a skilled administrator, a rebel, an opportunist, and even a corrupt individual.

Born in the small town of Deolali Pravara, about 200 kilometers from Baramati, Ajit’s political journey began under the guidance of his influential uncle, Sharad Pawar. His early life was marked by personal hardships after the death of his father, leaving him to shoulder the family’s responsibilities from a young age.

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Ajit Pawar entered politics in the 1980s, following the path carved by Sharad Pawar, who had risen to prominence through the cooperative sugar industry. In 1982, Ajit joined a sugar mill board, followed by a role as chairman of the Pune district’s Central Cooperative Bank. His first major political success came in 1991 when he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Baramati on a Congress ticket, though he soon had to vacate his seat for his uncle. His political career continued to flourish in Maharashtra, particularly after he became an MLA from Baramati.

Ajit’s political path was closely tied to Sharad Pawar, as he remained loyal to his uncle even when the latter left Congress to form the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 1999. Ajit followed suit, and despite holding various significant ministerial roles in the NCP-led government, he was often passed over for the Chief Minister’s position, with his ambition to lead the state being thwarted by his uncle. In 2004, he had a chance to become CM as the NCP won more number of seats than the alliance partner Congress. However, Sharad Pawar chose to leave the seat for the Congress in lieu of an extra cabinet berth in the UPA government at the centre. Ajit Pawar publicly expressed his frustration over his uncle's move.

Over time, accusations of corruption began to cloud Ajit's reputation, particularly in relation to the irrigation scam, which allegedly involved mismanagement and fraudulent practices under his supervision as the Minister of Irrigation. He also faced allegations linked to the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank scam.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule was also initiated in the politics and became a Member of Parliament from Baramati in 2009. This led to a question over inheritance of Sharad Pawar's political legacy. Although Sharad Pawar publicly clarified that Supriya Sule will be active in the national politics and Ajit Pawar will lead be taking care of the party affairs in the state, the party appeared to be divided into two camps.

Despite these controversies, Ajit Pawar managed to navigate through turbulent waters. In 2019, after the BJP-NCP alliance won a majority in the state elections, Ajit briefly joined hands with the BJP, accepting the position of Deputy Chief Minister. However, his rebellion was short-lived, as most of his supporters returned to Sharad Pawar's fold, leading to the collapse of the BJP-led government after just three days. Ajit then rejoined the NCP and was appointed Deputy Chief Minister once again under the leadership of his uncle.

In 2023, however, Ajit Pawar rebelled once more, splitting the NCP and aligning with the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, further intensifying his rivalry with Sharad Pawar. Not only did the majority of MLAs and senior leaders went with Ajit Pawar, but the Election Commission also ruled in his favour by assigning him the party's official name and the clock symbol. Ajit Pawar's move is seen as the biggest setback to Sharad Pawar in his political career.

Despite his party broken, Sharad Pawar refused to concede defeat. The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 were the first direct contest between the factions headed by the uncle and the nephew. Sharad Pawar's party won eight seats whereas Ajit Pawar's just one. What added insult to the injury was the defeat of Sunetra, Ajit Pawar's wife. Sunetra was defeated by Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from the Baramati seat.

Those who have observed Ajit Pawar's political career believe that his persona has changed. His image of a "macho" politician has become softer. Ajit Pawar has been often a muse for MNS chief Raj Thackeray's mimicry, however, he too now adapts the same tactics in his public speeches by mimicking his cousin Supriya Sule and uncle Sharad Pawar. He has been often spotted donning pink coloured jackets to promote the government's "Ladki Bahin Yojana," making himself a meme material.

As the 2024 Maharashtra elections approach, Ajit Pawar’s political future remains uncertain. Whether he can retain his influence in the state’s politics or return to his uncle's fold once again will be determined by the voters. His journey has been marked by both political ambition and controversies, making him one of Maharashtra’s most complex political figures.