Veteran politician and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar turns 80 on December 12, 2020. The Maratha leader from Baramati has been active in politics for over 50 years, he has not lost a single Assembly or Lok Sabha election since 1967. Here's a look at Sharad Pawar's journey through pictures. (All photos: mid-day photographers, AFP)
Updated On: 2020-12-12 09:19 AM IST
Veteran leader and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar was born on December 12, 1940. A stalwart of Indian politics, Pawar has a vast experience that spans over 50 years of public service.
In picture: Sharad Pawar, then the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, waves at the crowd on his arrival in Bombay on June 8, 1997.
From not losing a single Assembly or Lok Sabha election since 1967 to being the Chief Minister of Maharashtra thrice - 1978-1980, 1988-1991 and 1993-1995, Sharad Pawar has carved a name for himself in Indian politics.
Besides helming affairs in Maharashtra, the 80-year-old Maratha warrior has been a Union Minister thrice, served as Leader of Opposition in the state and Centre, and also held the Parliamentary Party leader and other top positions too.
In picture: Sharad Pawar along with Sudhakarroa Naik speaking to journalists at the Chavan center in Mumbai (then Bombay).
Sharad Pawar formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress.
In picture: Sharad Pawar eats a piece of cake from his wife Pratibha's hand as his granddaughter Revati looks on during his 61st birthday celebration.
Sharad Pawar was born in Baramati, in Pune district. He studied in a college in Pune and earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce. Sharad Pawar married Pratibha Shinde in 1967; they have a daughter Supriya, who is a sitting MP from the Baramati constituency in Lok Sabha.
Sharad Pawar served as the chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2005 to 2008 and also became the president of the International Cricket Council in 2010.
In 2017, Sharad Pawar was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.
In picture: Sharad Pawar, presents a bouquet to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi on July 19, 2009.
A staunch politician, a master strategist and a leader of the masses are a few of the facets of Sharad Pawar's illustrious political life. He also served as the president of Pune International Marathon Trust, which has been hosting the Pune International Marathon for the last 22 years.
File picture: Sharad Pawar, during his tenure as the president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Haroon Lorgat, who was the ICC chief executive, at a function at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai.
During the build-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Pawar left the nation spellbound once again when he addressed a rally during heavy rain in Satara in October 2019.
In November 2019, Sharad Pawar rewrote history when he went on to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The MVA is a post-poll alliance in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and Indian National Congress.
In picture: Sharad Pawar with late, former President of India Pranab Mukherjee and late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.
Just like stalwarts of Indian politics such as Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar also enjoys a warm and personal rapport with all the top political leaders, cutting across the party lines.
In picture: NCP president Sharad Pawar addressing the media at Y.B Chavan center in Nariman Point. Pic/Suresh Karkera
Pawar is credited with maintaining a balance in politics - the result of his rich ground-level experience vis-a-vis the Twitter-Facebook approach of modern-day politicians.
In picture: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar with former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan in Mumbai. Pic/Bipin Kokate
