Ajit Pawar, a man who has always kept his word

“Kasa ahe, Vinaya tai!” is how Ajit Pawar would start talking when asked any question. The literal translation is, “I will tell you how it is, Vinaya tai!” ‘Tai’, meaning sister, is a commonly used term of endearment and respect in Maharashtra. So is ‘Dada’, meaning elder brother. That is how people addressed him, how he referred to himself, and how he carried himself. This was his typical way of starting his answers, even as he would try to be cautious in the beginning while speaking to the national media. Soon after, true to his nature, he would throw caution to the winds and speak. I remember asking him about the fiscal prudence of the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana after it was rolled out, providing ₹1,500 to eligible women in the State. It was also a time when the State elections were coming up, and the Mahayuti had promised that the amount would be increased to ₹2,100 if voted back to power. I asked him, “How is that even possible? How will you manage the State’s finances?” ## Ajit Pawar (1959-2026) • Ajit Pawar leaves Maharashtra politics in turbulence Ajit Pawar leaves Maharashtra politics in turbulence • Ajit Pawar: Long political life marked by drama, rebellions, and scams Ajit Pawar: Long political life marked by drama, rebellions, and scams • Baramati mourns its Ajit ‘Dada’ Baramati mourns its Ajit ‘Dada’ • Ajit Pawar: Sharad Pawar’s shadow to Fadnavis’ ally, a look at his 40-year political journey Ajit Pawar: Sharad Pawar’s shadow to Fadnavis’ ally, a look at his 40-year political journey While other leaders bypassed any serious discussion, emphasising that the promise would be fulfilled once the alliance returned to power, that was not how Pawar responded. He did not want to say it was impossible — that would have contradicted the alliance line — but he also did not want to say it was possible. He expressed concern about the burden it would place on the treasury. “Kasa ahe, Vinaya tai, we will have to take the Centre’s help if anything else has to be done. If they chip in, we can do something,” he said, making it clear that any allocation beyond ₹1,500 was not possible on the State’s own strength. #### In Pictures | Ajit Pawar's political journey Pawar was known for speaking sharply, and for some, this was terrifying. Sometimes, it reflected his concern for their well-being. When former Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil chewed tobacco, Pawar would rebuke him repeatedly. My last interaction with Pawar was a day before his sudden demise. He walked out of his chamber in the State Secretariat after a Cabinet meeting, and I was standing right there. A day later in Baramati, his OSD (Officer on Special Duty) told me, amid the shock over the event that had happened, “He later asked about you”. An interview for the local body elections was pending. What stood out for me was his sense of discipline and dedication to public life like his uncle Sharad Pawar. Once, last year, he promised me an interview. As I was about to start rolling the camera, his team requested some time, saying he had not had lunch for hours. I agreed and told them I would wait. Pawar said he would return in 10 minutes. He kept his promise. He came, sat next to me, and said, “Ask whatever you want”. I smiled as his team requested me to wind up at the earliest, as he had already been delayed for his next commitment. And yet, he indulged me for much longer than the given slot, answering all my questions, including the difficult ones, with all earnestness. To me, this was a man who appreciated the fact that I had waited for him and made up for it. As journalists, we are used to walking into people’s bungalows or offices at any hour. I had seen visitors queue up at his residence as early as 8 a.m. For someone who was invariably in his chair by 6 a.m., politics was less a vocation and more a relentless preoccupation. He would move through the State Secretariat with purposeful strides, rushing from one meeting to the next as his staff would brief him on the move. Taking representations in one hand, he would pass them over to designated staffers. Pawar was a leader who believed in multitasking. The corridors of the State Assembly will no longer echo with his jokes, nor will the Secretariat see an administrator who routinely took officers to task. Published - January 30, 2026 12:38 am IST ### Related Topics Maharashtra / state politics