Listed below are prime 5 moments which have outlined the six-time Maharashtra deputy chief minister’s 35-plus years of political profession.

1) Irrigation rip-off

His total political legacy was marred by one main controversy: the 2012 irrigation rip-off for which he needed to resign from the Maharashtra Cupboard. He was the Deputy CM within the then Congress-NCP authorities in September that 12 months when his identify figured in reference to alleged monetary irregularities exceeding Rs 70,000 crore.

The NCP chief was given a clear chit by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau in December 2019, after the company concluded that there was no proof to immediately implicate him within the alleged inflation of contracts throughout his tenure.

2) Morning oath ceremony

In 2019, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) formation was underway with the Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the Congress in talks, Ajit Pawar shocked everybody, together with his uncle and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, when he took oath as Deputy Chief Minister on a Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

This was after he joined palms with Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) to kind the federal government in Maharashtra. Three days later, nevertheless, the federal government collapsed as Pawar was unable to engineer a break up in his get together. Ajit Pawar returned to the MVA fold. He was once more made the Deputy CM of the Aghadi authorities.

3) Sharad Pawar’s resignation

In Might 2023, NCP chief Sharad Pawar determined to step all the way down to make means for the subsequent line of leaders. On the operate the place he introduced his retirement, many employees and get together leaders wailed and requested him to not step down, a request which he finally agreed to.

Nonetheless, solely Ajit Pawar stood up and supported Pawar’s choice to step down. “You all can attraction in order for you, however with me and Supriya (Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule), is he going to take heed to us?” he mentioned in response to pleas of employees urging him to attraction to his uncle to rethink his choice.

It’s higher, he mentioned in his standard tone, that the subsequent get together president is finalised whereas Sharad Pawar continues to be round and energetic.

“Contemplating his age, we’re interested by saheb (Sharad Pawar) and everyone else and making an attempt to offer the get together’s reins to a brand new management. This management will work for the get together underneath saheb’s mentorship. Any idiot additionally will be capable to inform that saheb is the get together,” he had mentioned.

His stand, which was opposite to what all different leaders on the stage have been saying, as soon as once more displayed his ambitions to be the NCP president.

4) The insurrection

Lastly in July 2023, Ajit Pawar rebelled from his uncle Sharad Pawar. This time, he was higher ready: he took 9 different ministers and round 40 MLAs with him. He joined palms with Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena and have become part of the Mahayuti authorities.

The NCP obtained break up vertically with the Ajit Pawar faction getting the get together image—alarm clock. It was his second, a degree the place he had emerged out of the shadows of his uncle.

Within the final two and a half years although, he had blended outcomes. Within the Lok Sabha polls, his get together received just one seat and he couldn’t even get his spouse win from Baramati. Nonetheless, the outcomes have been kinder in meeting and municipal council elections. The clock turned towards him once more within the not too long ago concluded company polls: his get together obtained decimated even in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the areas he had full management till 2017.

5) Expenses towards son

Although Ajit Pawar by no means misplaced an election, his elder son Parth Pawar misplaced from Maval constituency within the 2019 normal elections. Six years later, he confronted a setback when his son’s identify was dragged into Mundhwa land rip-off.

After the allegations towards Parth have been made in November final 12 months, Ajit Pawar distanced himself from his son initially. However just a few days later, he spoke about it defending his son.

The NCP chief instructed the media that he was reminded of the allegations made towards him within the irrigation rip-off and finally the probe had proven he had nothing to do with the irregularities.

“It’s simple to make allegations, however it’s equally vital that folks know the truth behind these allegations. I knew nothing about this transaction. I all the time say, do what matches within the guidelines. I requested everybody in my workplace as we speak if anyone put any stress on anybody to behave in a sure method. There was no stress from my workplace on anybody,” he mentioned.

The youthful son, Jay Pawar, has maintained a comparatively low public profile. He’s mentioned to be concerned in enterprise pursuits of the household, and helps out with native campaigns and again room administration.

(Edited by Tony Rai)

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Additionally Learn: Ajit Pawar: Brash, tireless, bold, the ‘Dada’ from Baramati

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