Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has stirred political discussions with his recent remarks about aspiring to become Chief Minister. During a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) event in Mumbai, Pawar candidly expressed his long-standing desire for the top post, saying, “I too want to become Chief Minister, but the opportunity never arises.”
His comments quickly sparked widespread reactions across political circles, with leaders and analysts speculating on the potential implications within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. However, Ajit Pawar has now taken a step back, issuing a clarification on his statement.
Speaking to the media, Pawar said, “I had made the statement in jest. If I indeed said something that has caused a stir, I take back my words.” He further added that becoming Chief Minister is only possible with the support of at least 145 MLAs, noting that Devendra Fadnavis currently has the backing of more than that number.
Pawar made the initial statement during the "Glorious Maharashtra Festival," organized by the NCP from May 1 to 4 to mark Maharashtra Day and International Workers' Day. On May 2, at a felicitation ceremony honoring accomplished women from various fields, Pawar shared his feelings: “Even I feel I should become the Chief Minister. Maybe someday the opportunity will come. It's not impossible,” he said.
He also cited the examples of women leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalithaa, emphasizing that Maharashtra too is a land of progressive values where even a woman can rise to the post of Chief Minister.
Ajit Pawar has served as Deputy Chief Minister six times so far. His first term began in 2010 under Prithviraj Chavan’s Congress-led government. He returned to the post in 2012, and briefly again in November 2019 in an early morning swearing-in with Devendra Fadnavis, which lasted only 80 hours. He later served in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and, after splitting from the original NCP in 2022, allied with the BJP to join the Mahayuti government, where he currently holds the Deputy CM post for the sixth time.
