The legacy: Ajit Pawar’s political journey unfolded in the long shadow of his uncle Sharad Pawar, the founder of the Nationalist Congress Party. Story continues below this ad👉 In Baramati, the Pawar family stronghold, party workers and residents grieved Ajit Pawar’s death. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had long leaned on Ajit Pawar to counterbalance Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde. Ajit Pawar’s death could pave the way for a reunification of the split factions — a scenario that would further unsettle the ruling alliance. 👉 Finally, we revisit the corruption cases that followed Ajit Pawar, from the Rs 1,300-crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank case to the Rs 70,000-crore irrigation projects controversy linked to his tenure as Water Resources Minister.