Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar share a close family bond and a complex political history—an uncle–nephew relationship that has shaped Maharashtra politics for decades.
Family ties first
Ajit Pawar is the son of Sharad Pawar’s elder brother, making him Sharad Pawar’s nephew. Within the Pawar family, the two have long been described as maintaining personal ties despite political disagreements, often summed up by aides as being “together at home” even when apart in public life.
Political partnership—and the split
For years, Ajit Pawar was seen as Sharad Pawar’s key political heir within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). That equation changed in July 2023, when Ajit Pawar led a revolt, splitting the party and joining the NDA-led Maharashtra government as Deputy Chief Minister alongside the BJP and Shiv Sena.
The rupture resulted in two factions:
- NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) led by Sharad Pawar
- NCP led by Ajit Pawar, aligned with the ruling coalition
Ideological divergence, personal connect
While the split reflected ideological and strategic differences, leaders from both sides have repeatedly said that family relations remained intact, underscoring the unique blend of kinship and rivalry that defines their relationship.
The relationship has come into renewed focus amid reports of a plane crash involving Ajit Pawar while travelling to Baramati for campaign-related engagements. Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing, and official confirmations are awaited as details continue to emerge.
Bottom line: Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar are uncle and nephew—once political allies, later rivals after the 2023 split—who maintained personal family ties even as their parties diverged. The unfolding aviation incident has cast a spotlight back on this pivotal political family at a critical moment.
This remains a developing situation. Updates will follow as official information is released.
