Ajit Pawar’s rise in Indian politics began with a strategic seat swap in Baramati in 1991, when he vacated a Lok Sabha position to allow his uncle, Sharad Pawar, then Defence Minister under PV Narasimha Rao, to contest. Shortly afterward, Ajit transitioned into the Baramati Assembly seat, which he held for over three decades — winning every election since 1991.

For years, Baramati was a Pawar family bastion, with both Sharad and Ajit Pawar anchoring political power in western Maharashtra. After the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 1999 by Sharad Pawar, Ajit emerged as a key leader inside the party and in state politics, assuming major portfolios such as finance and deputy chief minister at various times.

Over time, Ajit carved his own identity — deeply rooted in cooperative sector networks and grassroots mobilization — and played a pivotal role in shaping Pune and Baramati’s development trajectories. His political path also included a controversial split from his uncle’s faction in 2023, aligning with the BJP-led alliance while keeping the NCP symbol.

Despite internal family rivalries and broader party disputes, Ajit Pawar’s legacy is inseparable from Baramati’s electorate, which consistently reaffirmed its trust in him across generations. His recent tragic death in a plane crash — near Baramati itself — marks the end of an era for Maharashtra politics and leaves a significant leadership void in the region his career was built upon.