As Maharashtra  remembers Ajit Pawar on his birth anniversary, my thoughts go back to the years I had the opportunity to work closely with him in government. For more than three decades, Ajit dada, as he was fondly called, occupied an important place in Maharashtra’s political and administrative landscape. What impressed me most was not merely the scale of his responsibilities but the manner in which he discharged them.

One quality stood out immediately — his respect for time. Meetings chaired by Ajit dada were conducted with precision. If an officer or a minister whose presence was essential had not arrived, he would simply pick up the phone. There was never any unnecessary display of authority, only a quiet firmness. Those who entered late would invariably find........

© Indian Express