In 1991, when Ajit Pawar entered the state assembly from Baramati, all eyes were on this reticent 32-year-old, the youngest member of the Sudhakarrao Naik ministry. Though he was a man of few words, the aura that came with his name was enough for others to sit up and take notice — after all, he was one of the famed Pawars from Baramati.

With equal number of friends and foes, the Pawars have always had a commanding presence in state politics. Their foes may appear few, but only because many of them are secret ones. But in many ways, state politics revolves around the mighty clan.