Pune: When a senior political leader dies suddenly, the family and parties often close in on each other and questions from the public are usually measured, if not muted. The same pattern has largely held, with one exception, in the case of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who died in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28.
That exception is Rohit Pawar, 40-year-old MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed and grandson of Sharad Pawar. While most members of the extended Pawar family and both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have spoken with restraint, Rohit has chosen a vigorous, sustained and combative public campaign.
Four back-to-back press conferences – two each in Mumbai and Delhi, which included detailed presentations, sharp political demands and repeated references to possible conspiracies – have torn them apart. In his latest press conference in Delhi on Saturday, the younger Pawar demanded an independent investigation involving former judges and the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha. The same day, he wrote to the Prime Minister reiterating his demand for the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.
When others are not speaking then why is Rohit Pawar speaking? Why is he pushing the issue, when on the day of the accident Sharad Pawar himself had said that it appears to be an accident, and no conspiracy should be read into it? And what does this moment tell us about the ongoing tussle for power, succession and place in Maharashtra politics?
Calibrated gait
According to two NCP figures and a senior BJP leader whom HT spoke to, Rohit Pawar’s actions should be read less as an emotional outburst and more as a cautious move at a moment of uncertainty.
Soon after the accident, when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee first raised the issue of possible foul play, Sharad Pawar had cautioned against speculation. Leaders of his party NCP (SP) largely followed that line.
No senior leader from the Sharad Pawar camp has directly supported Rohit Pawar’s allegations or the demand for his resignation at the Centre, though some of them, including family member and four-time MP Supriya Sule, have supported Rohit Pawar. He spoke of “two types of possible conspiracies—political and commercial.” He demanded the resignation of the Union Civil Aviation Minister, alleging that only the Prime Minister and the Home Minister can deliver justice as the people involved, if any, are powerful.
On the other hand, the reaction within NCP itself is different but still restrained. NCP MLC Amol Mitkari raised questions several times about the accident, but others in the party remained largely silent.
Ajit Pawar’s widow Sunetra Pawar, who replaced him as Deputy Chief Minister, wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra demanding a CBI inquiry. Ajit Pawar’s elder son Parth has remained silent, while his younger son Jai questioned the circumstances of the accident and demanded a fair and transparent investigation in a brief post on social media earlier this week. But neither of them has run a daily public campaign.
Then why is Rohit Pawar so insistent? And, can he go ahead with this campaign without consulting the head of the family?
filling a void
An explanation often heard in political circles is that Rohit Pawar is trying to fill the void left by Ajit Pawar’s death. Ajit was not just a powerful administrator; He was also a prominent political personality within the Pawar family and the wider NCP network. His absence has left a glaring gap – emotional, organizational and political.
Supporters of Rohit Pawar posted messages immediately after the tragedy, suggesting he may move to the area. Rohit has not said this openly, but his actions indicate his awareness of the moment.
Each of his press conferences has been carefully staged. On the screen behind him are detailed slides pointing out alleged flaws, delays and inconsistencies. At the top of the screen is a personal message: “Miss you Ajit Kaka,” along with a heart emoji. The mix of emotion and documentation is intentional. This allows Rohit to speak as both a bereaved family member and a public representative asking questions.
Political Science professor Chitra Lele said that this mix is important. He said, “Rohit Pawar is not just presenting himself as the answer-seeking nephew. He is presenting himself as someone who is willing to ask tough questions when institutions appear slow, and others appear hesitant.”
If Rohit is filling a void, why aren’t others stepping into it?
Within the NCP (SP), leaders are still pondering over the political fallout of the 2023 split and the 2024 assembly elections, following the recent round of merger talks which appeared to have come to a complete halt following the tragedy.
An NCP (SP) leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Sharad Pawar remains the undisputed moral center of the party. His initial statement that the accident was an accident created an atmosphere of restraint. Later, when some shortcomings came to light, Rohit Pawar started addressing them directly.”
Rohit Pawar finally addressed this issue as well. “When one person raises a topic, others should refrain from speaking on it to prevent confusion,” he said on Saturday.
He has also said that the party gives flexibility and authority if the issue is supported by documents and research. “In our party, if something is factual and supported by documentation, and if you are taking the topic forward after proper research, then the party gives us that flexibility and authority,” he said.
Asked whether Sharad Pawar and his party supported these press conferences, Rohit said, “I am holding a Delhi press conference at the residence of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule; you can draw your own inference from that.” According to Rohit Pawar, he had also spoken to Jai Pawar earlier this week when Jai told him that he too had the same concerns regarding his father’s accident.
political personality
Rohit Pawar’s outlook also reflects his political personality. Vitthal Maniyar, a longtime friend of the Pawar family, said he was known for being “aggressive and studious.”
Although there is talk of Sharad Pawar grooming him for his political journey, it has not been without hiccups. In 2019, he defeated veteran BJP leader Ram Shinde from the Karjat-Jamkhed seat of Ahilyanagar. In 2024, he retained the seat by a slim margin of only 1,243 votes. Following that result, Ajit Pawar himself commented that if he had campaigned in the constituency, Rohit might have struggled to win. The commentary underlined both Ajit Pawar’s influence and Rohit’s relative weakness.
An NCP leader said Rohit’s current campaign could be read as an attempt to project tenacity, depth and courage – qualities that are often associated with Ajit Pawar’s public image. The leader quoted above cited recent anecdotes to reinforce this connection. Rohit, during an event in August 2025, had recalled how Ajit Pawar had once called him home after his first assembly speech – not to praise him, but to remind him to button his shirt properly. It was a lesson in discipline and public conduct. Rohit repeated this to show how closely Ajit Pawar looked up to him.
Another important aspect of Rohit’s ongoing campaign is his selection of venues while addressing press conferences. His first press conference was not in Pune or Baramati, but at the YB Chavan Center in Mumbai on 10 February. This happened when Sunetra Pawar took charge as Deputy Chief Minister, 13 days after Ajit Pawar’s death. Time ensured attention.
The very next day he repeated the same things in Delhi also. Subsequent press conferences were held alternately between Mumbai and Delhi, including the one held on Saturday at 6 Janpath, the official residence of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule. This pattern shows intention. Rohit is not only talking about the state but is pushing the issue at the national level.
By demanding the resignation of the Union Aviation Minister and citing the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, “Rohit is making the accident not just a state tragedy but a matter of national accountability. This escalation isolates him from other family members and party leaders,” Lele said.
“In politics, especially in family-dominated parties, moments of loss are also moments of realignment,” said a BJP leader from Pune. “Rohit Pawar is claiming relevance. He is showing that he can single-handedly raise a tough issue, maintain pressure and attract attention. At the same time, he is careful not to show himself as an equal to the late Ajit Pawar.”
However, Rohit Pawar has said that he is only raising questions that “people are already asking”. “If everyone remains silent then who will give justice to Ajit Dada?” He said.
Whether Rohit Pawar’s campaign will yield any concrete results – resignation, central inquiry or new revelations – remains to be seen. What is already clear is that he has used this moment to reshape perceptions about himself.
As Chitra Lele says, “This is not just a story about an accident. It is a story about how leadership is tested in moments of loss – and about who is willing to speak out and chart a new path when silence might be the safer path.”
