Shri Sharad Pawar

President of the Nationalist Congress Party

Mr. Pawar, known to the masses as Saheb, was born on the 12th December 1940. Mr. Pawar hails from a family of Baramati, Pune (Maharashtra,India). Starting early in politics, he became president of the State Youth Congress at 24; Member of the State Cabinet 5 years later. In 1978, he became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the age of 38. Mr. Pawar completed two more terms as Chief Minister before being appointed country's Defense Minister in June 1991. In March 1993, he became Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time. In 1995 he was elected as a Member Of Parliament (Lok sabha) and became Leader of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha. Mr. Sharad Pawar was once again elected as a Member Of Parliament (Lok Sabha) in 1998 and became the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. Mr. Pawar was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for seven years out of his 32 years in politics.

During these years, Maharashtra became and retained a position as the leading industrial state in the country and also a state with a very well managed treasury. Mr. Pawar is an economic liberal who believes that only large-scale investment leading to rapid economic development and increased employment makes a country a real international power. His passion for innovative technology is reflected in his approach to the Vasantdada Sugar Institute, which he heads. It is a premier institute for sugar technology in India, with links with international institutes. At a national level it is his belief that India can and should be South Asian and Pacific hub for the sunrise sectors of software production, telecommunication and information technology. His constituency houses a number of products in these sectors.

Socially Mr. Pawar is modern thinker. In India, where caste and communal issues tend to play a major part in politics, Mr. Pawar has always stood for a society free of caste and communal biases. As Chief Minister he has consistent encouraged people of different communities living in Maharashtra to develop their special cultural and ethnic identity while contributing to the overall development of the state. Mr. Pawar married Pratibha and they have a daughter Supriya, who is also married. Mr. Pawar is truly a post independence 20th century Indian, sustaining the best of Indian social values while absorbing the best that the west has to offer.

This visionery is the President of Vidya Pratishathan, a well known academic Institution. Acknowledging the pulse of rapidly changing time, he brought IT revolution in Baramati to facilitate this innovative knowledge to the common citizen.

Legislative Career

1967Elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Baramati Assembly constituency from Baramati
1967 - 1991General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Secretary, Maharashtra Congress Legislative Assembly Party
1972 - 1974Minister Of State For Home, Food & Civil Supplies. Rehabilitation, Publicity, Sports & Youth Welfare Deptts. Of the Govt. Of Maharashtra
1978 - 1980Chief Minister, Maharashtra
1981 - 1984Leader Of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. 1984 Elected Member Of Lok Sabha from Baramati Parliamentary Constituency
1985 - 1986Elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Congress-S)
1991 - 1993Defence Minister, Government Of India
1991 NovemberBaramati Constituency (By Election)
1993 - 1995Chief Minister, Maharashtra
1996 MayElected Member Of Parliament
1998 MarchGeneral Election(Elected Member Of Parliament). Declared Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
1999 MayPresident of Nationalist Congress Party
  

Special Interests

  • Agriculture
  • Horticulture
  • Economics
  • Irrigation
  • Energy
  • Finance

Sports and Clubs

  • Maharashtra Olympic Association
  • Garware Club House, Mumbai
  • Maharashtra Kustigir Parishad