PM Modi Extends Birthday Wishes To Sharad Pawar As Veteran Leader Marks Six Decades In Public Life

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed his birthday greetings to senior parliamentarian Sharad Pawar, wishing him good health and a long life.

In a message shared on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Birthday wishes to Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sharad Pawar Ji. Wishing him a long and healthy life.”

Pawar, a prominent figure in Maharashtra and national politics, celebrated his 84th birthday as greetings poured in from leaders across party lines.

Widely regarded as one of India’s most influential regional leaders, Sharad Pawar began his political journey in 1958 when he joined the Youth Congress. His rise was swift; by the age of 37, he had become Maharashtra’s youngest Chief Minister, a position he would go on to hold four times.

At the national level, Pawar served as India’s Defence Minister between 1991 and 1993 under Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, earning recognition for his administrative capability during a period marked by economic and political transition.

He actively shaped Maharashtra’s cooperative and agricultural sectors, particularly the sugar industry, where leaders across political parties have acknowledged his influence.

Breaks with Congress and the Making of the NCP

Pawar’s political journey has been punctuated by decisive breaks from the Congress. In 1978, he led 40 MLAs out of the party to form the Progressive Democratic Front in alliance with the Janata Party and the Peasants and Workers Party.

He briefly returned as Chief Minister before his government was dismissed in 1980.

Congress expelled Pawar, along with PA Sangma and Tariq Anwar, in 1999 after they objected to Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin.

This episode resulted in the formation of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which Pawar built into a formidable regional and national force.

In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Pawar’s spirited campaign reinvigorated the NCP, boosting its seat tally and paving the way for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with the Shiv Sena and Congress.

A faction led by his nephew Ajit Pawar briefly allied with the BJP, testing his ability to navigate alliances once again.

Although the rebellion caused significant shifts, Pawar remained a resilient figure. The Election Commission’s later recognition of Ajit’s faction as the official NCP prompted the veteran leader to establish the NCP–Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) faction.

Despite political turbulence, Pawar continues to wield considerable influence. From the Opposition benches, he remains an outspoken critic of government policies and a key strategist in Maharashtra’s political landscape.

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