Ajit Pawar: The man who betrayed Sharad Pawar

Known as the heir apparent of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, who has taken oath as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra by splitting his own party has not shied away from claiming his stake on power ever since he joined the politics.

Son of Sharad Pawar’s elder brother Anantrao, Ajit, like his uncle Sharad Pawar has started his political career from the cooperative sector and rose to become number two in the party.

Ajit is said to have nurtured a bitterness against his cousin and Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule. He was opposed to Supriya Sule’s entry into electoral politics in the 2009 Parliamentary elections.

However, Ajit, as well as Supriya both, have denied any reports of bitterness and competition between them.

The entry of a third-generation Pawar in the form of Rohit Pawar is being seen as another cause of rankling.

As per Maharashtra watchers, Rohit, the grandnephew of the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, has been gaining importance within the NCP rank and file. This again made his uncle Ajit a bit jittery.

Known as the strongman in Maratha politics, Ajit Pawar is no stranger to controversies and putting his party and comrades in an odd situation.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Sharad Pawar’s decision to step back from contesting the election is said to be on Ajit’s insistence. According to reports, Ajit wanted to field his son Parth from Maval.

In 2012 he gave up all his ministerial portfolios and resigned as Deputy Chief Minister following accusations of irregularities in irrigation projects during his tenure as the Water Resources Minister. Following his resignation, the Chavan government plunged into crisis. Finally, Sharad Pawar had to then step in to save the Congress-NCP government.

Ajit stirred major controversy in April 2013 when his question on whether people should urinate to fill up dams in parched regions evoked criticism from all across the state.