If the 18th century statesman of the Maratha Empire, Nana Phadnavis, was called the ‘Maratha Machiavelli’ by European visitors to the Peshwa court, that moniker today would undoubtedly belong to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo, Sharad Pawar.
Arguably one of Maharashtra’s tallest leaders in the last quarter of the 20th century, the 82-year-old, whose name has become a byword for regional Indian realpolitik, remains a pivotal figure of the State and country’s politics today and the only Opposition leader whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi defers to.
A lot of ink has been expended in gauging every move in Mr. Pawar’s eventful 63-year political career. A catalyst who has changed the chemistry of regional politics, his career facts are well-known: undefeated in his 56 years of electoral politics since he first became MLA from Baramati (in Pune district) in 1967; the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at age 38 in 1978, he helmed the State in that capacity a total four times; holder of vital union Cabinet portfolios like Defence and Agriculture in previous Congress-led governments at the Centre.
