Who was Ajit Pawar?
Ajit Pawar was an Indian politician who served as the 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra alongside Eknath Shinde under Devendra Fadnavis from December 2024 until his death in January 2026. He was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, serving non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms under various governments, including the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde. He died due to plane crash in Baramati on 28 January 2026.
Wiki/Overview
| Full Name | Ajit Anantrao Pawar |
| Nick Name | Dada |
| Profession | Politician |
| Date of Birth | 22 July 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Deolali Pravara, Bombay State, India |
| Age (as of 2026) | 66 years old (Died on 28 January 2026) |
| Father | Anantrao Pawar |
| Mother | Ashatai Pawar |
| Spouse | Sunetra Pawar |
| Education | HSC Passed |
| Known for | Ajit Pawar was a renowned Politician of India. He was currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He was the leader of Nationalist Congress Party. |
| Residence | Baramati, Maharashtra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Height | 5’9 |
| Weight | N/A |
| Eye Colour | Black |
Early Life
Ajit Pawar was born on 22 July 1959 at Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar district to parents Anantrao Pawar and Ashatai Pawar. He was the nephew of Sharad Pawar, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party and a four-time former Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Career
Ajit Pawar began his political career through Maharashtra’s cooperative movement, where he worked closely with sugar factories and cooperative banks in western Maharashtra. He entered electoral politics in 1991 after winning the Baramati Assembly seat, which later became his political stronghold. His early work helped him build strong connections with farmers and rural voters, especially in Pune district and nearby regions.
Over the years, Ajit Pawar emerged as one of the most powerful leaders in the state. He handled key departments such as Finance, Water Resources, Planning, and Rural Development, playing an important role in policy decisions and budget planning. Known for his administrative grip, he became a central figure in Maharashtra’s governance and decision-making process.
Ajit Pawar went on to become the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times, serving under different chief ministers and across changing political alliances. He worked in governments led by leaders from multiple parties, which highlighted his political influence and adaptability. His long career made him one of the most experienced and impactful politicians in Maharashtra’s contemporary political history.
On 28 January 2026, at approximately 09:12 AM, a business jet carrying Pawar on an air charter flight from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Baramati Airport in Maharashtra crashed while attempting a second approach to runway 11 at Baramati Airport. The aircraft veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of Pawar and four others on board.
The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Learjet 45XR, registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Aviation. At the time of the incident, Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings in connection with the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
Education
Ajit Pawar attended school in Deolali Pravara but dropped out of college to help his family after the death of his father.
Family and Affairs
Ajit Pawar was married to Sunetra Pawar. The couple has two children named Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar.
Appearance
Ajit Pawar had a height of 5’9 inches and he had black coloured hairs and black coloured eyes.
Achievements
Ajit Pawar’s major achievements were closely linked to finance management, irrigation, and rural development in Maharashtra. As Finance Minister, he presented multiple state budgets and was known for his firm control over spending and revenue planning. He played a key role in pushing large irrigation and water projects, especially in drought-prone regions of western Maharashtra. Pawar also worked to strengthen the cooperative sector, including sugar factories and cooperative banks, which are vital to the rural economy. His administrative style was seen as decisive and result-oriented, making him one of the most influential leaders in shaping Maharashtra’s development policies over the years.
Money Factor
| Net Worth | Approximately 125 cr |
| Salary/Income | N/A |
Trivia and Facts
Ajit Pawar’s father Anantrao, had initially worked for filmmaker V.Shantaram’s “Rajkamal Studios” in Bombay. His grandfather Govindrao Pawar served as an employee of Baramati Co-operative Trading.
He became the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the sixth time in 2024.
