Ajit Pawar's Legacy: Maharashtra's Political Vacuum and Unfinished Missions
Maharashtra plunged into political uncertainty with the sudden demise of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the state’s longest-serving DCM, who was poised to present his 12th state budget. Pawar's portfolios have temporarily reverted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis until formal notifications are issued after the three-day mourning period. The government now faces the immediate challenge of navigating the budget session without its leader.
Just a fortnight ago, Pawar had told TOI that his top priority was to reunite both NCP factions under the guidance of Sharad Pawar, expressing lifelong gratitude to Pawar Senior for shaping his political journey. The 66-year-old leader’s death in a private jet crash near Baramati airport, about 100 km from Pune, leaves Maharashtra grappling not only with grief but also with unfinished political ambitions—from budget presentations to upcoming local body elections.
Ajit Pawar’s political journey is marked by significant milestones. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Baramati but quit the same year to allow Sharad Pawar to return to Parliament. He was elected as Baramati MLA and has remained unbeaten for eight terms till 2024. In 2009, he became the deputy chief minister for the first time and took on the finance portfolio the following year. In 2012, he faced allegations over the ‘irrigation scam’ but was later reinstated.
In November 2019, Pawar joined hands with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis and was sworn in as deputy chief minister. However, the government collapsed within 80 hours. In December 2019, he returned as deputy chief minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government. In July 2023, he led a split in Sharad Pawar’s NCP and joined the BJP-Sena government as deputy chief minister. In November 2024, he led the NCP to victory in state polls as part of the Mahayuti and became deputy chief minister for the sixth time. In 2025, he presented the state budget for the 11th time as finance minister.
Just last week, the finance department led by the late Ajit Pawar had cleared the purchase of a new leather bag—an enduring emblem of budget presentations across the country. One such bag, which he had used to carry his budget speech, successfully navigated the bureaucratic layers of approval and is now making its way to Mantralaya. But as fate willed it, the leather bag will now never reach its intended owner. The bag, costing around Rs 7,000, was meant to be used for the presentation of Maharashtra Budget 2026. If everything had gone as planned, on budget day Pawar would have held up the bag in front of the media for innumerable ‘clicks’. A second similar bag has been purchased for MoS (finance) Ashish Jaiswal who will take charge on behalf of the government in the Legislative Council.
Speaking to TOI, Jaiswal said he will miss the symbolic photo where both hold up the bag to cameras on budget day. “I can't imagine that moment without dada, I will miss him dearly. I cannot imagine Budget day without dada,” said Jaiswal. The approval was part of routine preparations undertaken every year ahead of the budget. Officials said the bag was to be used for carrying budget documents and the speech copy during the session.
Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be held with full state honors in Baramati at 11 am today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the funeral, a senior police officer told TOI. All state ministers and MLAs are expected to be present.
