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Wednesday, August 5, 2026
TopicAjit Pawar

Topic: Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar, popularly called Ajit Dada, is a prominent Maharashtra politician, and nephew of Sharad Pawar, the co-founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former union minister.

In 2023, Ajit Pawar, along with some MLAs, split from the NCP and joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in the state. He then went on to serve as a co-deputy CM along with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis under CM Eknath Shinde. A year prior to this, Ajit Pawar was the leader of the opposition in the state assembly and the finance minister for three years under the then MVA government of the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena. Pawar has a history of defections; in 2019, too, he defected from the party to become the Deputy CM under Fadnavis, which lasted just a few days.

Ajit Pawar is an MLA from Baramati, a family constituency for the Pawars. He has represented Baramati in the Vidhan Sabha since 1995, and previously served as Minister of State for Agriculture and Power, Minister of State for Soil Conservation, Power, and Planning in 1992, and Cabinet Minister responsible for the Irrigation Department in 1999.

2 NCPs, 2 foundation days, twin crises. Both Pawar factions staring at uncertain future

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Soon after Ajit Pawar’s death, Maharashtra's political corridors were abuzz with how he'd verbally agreed to a merger. Months on, both NCP factions in throes of an identity crisis.

With son taking control, a ‘catch-22’ for Sunetra? Cracks widen in NCP over Parth’s leadership style

Purva Chitnis -
In the new regime headed by his mother after Ajit Pawar's death, Parth has become a voice too powerful to ignore. But his working style has not gone down well with many.

NCP shows signs of unease under Sunetra Pawar. Leader’s exit triggers fear of wave of resignations

Purva Chitnis -
Former MP Anand Paranjpe, said to be vying for MLC post that went to Zeeshan Siddique, has resigned from NCP & joined Shinde's Sena. Party leaders it could have a ripple effect.

Sunetra Pawar’s cautious & controlled political rise, in Ajit dada’s shadow

+TFP Manasi Phadke -
On Monday, she won the Baramati bypoll with a handsome margin of 2.18 lakh votes, largely unopposed. No major party fielded a candidate against her.

How NCP convinced Congress to clear path for Sunetra Pawar’s election as Baramati MLA

Purva Chitnis -
With no major party opposing Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar now, she is likely set to win the contest. Ajit Pawar was voted to power seven times from Baramati.

Baramati bypoll: Sunetra Pawar files nomination, Rohit urges ally Congress to withdraw; Sena (UBT) undecided

Purva Chitnis -
Rohit Pawar urges Cong to withdraw & let her be elected unopposed from the seat that fell vacant after her husband Ajit Pawar’s demise in a plane crash. Voting is on 23 April.

‘Focus on your own party’: NCP rejects Rohit Pawar’s claim of insider bid to wrest power from Sunetra

Purva Chitnis -
Rohit cited Sunetra Pawar’s letter to ECI to allege Sunil Tatkare & Praful Patel were trying to take control of NCP-AP from her. NCP-AP leaders accused him of meddling in its affairs.

Sugar mills, Pawars, petitions, ED & EOW probe—the many twists & turns in Rs 25,000 crore MSCB ‘scam’

Kasturi Walimbe -
As a special court accepted closure report filed by Economic Offences Wing, it weakens Enforcement Directorate's parallel money-laundering probe against big names in Maharashtra.

The great Maharashtra dig & Andrewgate, skeletons in the palace

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Supriye Sule, Rohit Pawar rule out NCP merger. ‘Talks ended with Ajit dada’s death’

Purva Chitnis -
Mumbai: Amid uncertainty over a possible reunion between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief...
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