Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar (born 12 December 1940) is one of Indias most seasoned and influential politicians, with a career spanning over five decades. He is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which he founded in 1999 after splitting from the Indian National Congress. Known as the Crop King of Indian politics for his deep understanding of agrarian issues, Pawar has served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra four times, Union Minister of Defence, and Union Minister of Agriculture. Born in Baramati, Maharashtra, Pawar entered politics at age 20 and won his first legislative assembly seat in 1967. He became the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1978 at age 38. His political career has been marked by pragmatism, coalition building, and remarkable longevity. He has been a key power broker in national politics, often kingmaker in coalition governments. As Agriculture Minister from 2009 to 2014, Pawar championed farmer welfare, crop insurance, and the implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. He is widely regarded as the tallest political leader from Maharashtra and has mentored a generation of politicians from the state. Pawar is also known for his love of cricket and was president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). He played a crucial role in expanding Indian cricket globally and in the commercial growth of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite his age and health challenges, Pawar remains a formidable political presence. His nephew Ajit Pawar split the NCP in 2023 to join the BJP-led government, creating a major political crisis. However, Sharad Pawar continues to lead the original NCP and remains one of the most respected figures in Indian politics.