Ajit Anantrao Pawar (born 22 July 1959) is an Indian politician who served as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. He is the nephew of Sharad Pawar, the chief of Nationalist Congress Party.

Early Life Career

Ajit Anantrao Pawar, popularly known as “Dada” was born on 22 July 1959 at his grandfather’s place in Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar district. He completed his schooling in Deolali, Pravara. He hails from the village of Katevadi in Baramati Taluka, Pune district. He is the Nephew of the Nationalist Congress Party President, Sharad Pawar.

When the (Indian National Congress)-NCP coalition came into power in 1999, Pawar was promoted to cabinet minister, firstly in the Irrigation Department (October 1999 – December 2003) in (Vilasrao Deshmukh)’s government. He was given additional charge of the Rural Development Department (December 2003 – October 2004) in (Sushilkumar Shinde)’s government. When Congress-NCP combination returned to power in 2004 he retained the Water Resources Ministry in Deshmukh’s government and later in Ashok Chavan’s government. He also became the Guardian minister for Pune district in 2004 and held the post until the COngress – NCP coalition lost power in 2014.