Aji Pawar
Encyclopedia
Ajit Anantrao Pawar (born July 22, 1959), popularly known as Dada (Big Brother) is a Maharashtra
politician currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is the nephew of Sharad Pawar
, the Union Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and the chief of Nationalist Congress Party
.
. Anantrao followed a less conventional career of working for V. Shantaram
's Rajkamal studio. His paternal grandfather, Govindrao Pawar was employed by the Baramati
farmers' Cooperative ( Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Sangh) whilst his grandmother, Shardabai looked after the family farm at Katewadi, ten kilometers from Baramati
.
. During the same time he was elected to Lok Sabha from Baramati Lok Sabha constituency
. He later vacated his Lok Sabha seat in favour of Mr. Sharad Pawar who had then become a Defense minister in Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao
's government.
Thereafter, he moved to the state legislature and was elected as a MLA from Baramati Vidhan Sabha constituency in 1991. He went on to become minister of state for Agriculture and Power (June 1991 - November 1992) in Mr. Sudhakarrao Naik
's government. Later he became minister of state for Soil Conservation, Power and Planning (November 1992 - February 1993) when Mr. Sharad Pawar returned to the state as chief minister.
When Congress-NCP combine came into power in 1999 Mr. Ajit Pawar was promoted to the rank of a cabinet minister. He became minister for coveted Irrigation department (October 1999 - December 2003) in Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh
's government. He was given additional charge of Rural Development department (December 2003 - October 2004) in Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde
's government.
When Congress-NCP combine returned to power in 2004 he retained the Water Resources ministry (name changed from Irrigation department to Water Resources department) (November 2004 - October 2009) in Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh
's government and later in Mr. Ashok Chavan
's government. He also became the Guardian minister for Pune district in 2004 and has held the post since then. There are allegations that as the minister for water resources he spared no efforts to help Lavasa, touted as a "vision of Sharad Pawar". He is Sharad Pawar
's nephew. The Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) leased 141.15 ha to Lavasa in August 2002, which included part of Warasgaon dam reservoir. The lease between MKDVC and Lavasa was executed at rates far below the market rate. This transfer was illegal as the mandatory permission from the revenue department was not taken
Prior to becoming Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra he held Power and Water Resources ministries (November 2009 - November 2010) in Mr. Ashok Chavan
's government.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
politician currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is the nephew of Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
, the Union Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and the chief of Nationalist Congress Party
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
.
Early Life and Family History
Ajit Pawar is the son of Anantrao Pawar who was an elder brother of Sharad PawarSharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
. Anantrao followed a less conventional career of working for V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram is a renowned Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for his films like Dr...
's Rajkamal studio. His paternal grandfather, Govindrao Pawar was employed by the Baramati
Baramati
Baramati is a city and a municipal council in Pune district in the state of Maharashtra, India.Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Baramati. The main food crops grown include sugarcane, grapes, and cotton...
farmers' Cooperative ( Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Sangh) whilst his grandmother, Shardabai looked after the family farm at Katewadi, ten kilometers from Baramati
Baramati
Baramati is a city and a municipal council in Pune district in the state of Maharashtra, India.Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Baramati. The main food crops grown include sugarcane, grapes, and cotton...
.
Political life
Ajit Pawar made his foray into politics in 1982 when he was elected to a sugar co-operative body. Ajit Pawar was then elected as a chairman of the Pune District Co-operative Bank (PDC) in 1991, the post he held for 16 years. It merits attention that when he took over, the bank deposits were just Rs 300 crore. When he relinquished office the bank deposits had increased to an astronomical figure of Rs 160000 crores. During the same time he was elected to Lok Sabha from Baramati Lok Sabha constituency
Baramati (Lok Sabha Constituency)
Baramati Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra state in western India.-Assembly segments:...
. He later vacated his Lok Sabha seat in favour of Mr. Sharad Pawar who had then become a Defense minister in Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Pamulaparti Venkata "Narasimha Rao" was the ninth Prime Minister of India . He led an important administration, overseeing a major economic transformation and several home incidents affecting national security of India. Rao accelerated the dismantling of the Licence Raj. He is often referred to as...
's government.
Thereafter, he moved to the state legislature and was elected as a MLA from Baramati Vidhan Sabha constituency in 1991. He went on to become minister of state for Agriculture and Power (June 1991 - November 1992) in Mr. Sudhakarrao Naik
Sudhakarrao Naik
Sudhakarrao Rajusing Naik was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 25 June 1991 until 22 February 1993...
's government. Later he became minister of state for Soil Conservation, Power and Planning (November 1992 - February 1993) when Mr. Sharad Pawar returned to the state as chief minister.
When Congress-NCP combine came into power in 1999 Mr. Ajit Pawar was promoted to the rank of a cabinet minister. He became minister for coveted Irrigation department (October 1999 - December 2003) in Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
's government. He was given additional charge of Rural Development department (December 2003 - October 2004) in Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde
Sushilkumar Shinde
Sushilkumar Shinde is an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra. He is currently the Cabinet Minister for Power in the Manmohan Singh government.-Dalit background:...
's government.
When Congress-NCP combine returned to power in 2004 he retained the Water Resources ministry (name changed from Irrigation department to Water Resources department) (November 2004 - October 2009) in Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
's government and later in Mr. Ashok Chavan
Ashok Chavan
Ashok Shankarrao Chavan was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chavan was sworn in on 8 December 2008, after his political party, the Indian National Congress and Vilasrao Deshmukh selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh's successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural...
's government. He also became the Guardian minister for Pune district in 2004 and has held the post since then. There are allegations that as the minister for water resources he spared no efforts to help Lavasa, touted as a "vision of Sharad Pawar". He is Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
's nephew. The Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) leased 141.15 ha to Lavasa in August 2002, which included part of Warasgaon dam reservoir. The lease between MKDVC and Lavasa was executed at rates far below the market rate. This transfer was illegal as the mandatory permission from the revenue department was not taken
Prior to becoming Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra he held Power and Water Resources ministries (November 2009 - November 2010) in Mr. Ashok Chavan
Ashok Chavan
Ashok Shankarrao Chavan was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chavan was sworn in on 8 December 2008, after his political party, the Indian National Congress and Vilasrao Deshmukh selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh's successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural...
's government.