India, Jan. 31 -- Maharashtra has not merely lost a politician; it has lost a voice that shaped the rhythm of its politics for decades. Ajit Pawar was many things-controversial to some, commanding to others-but he was never inconsequential. His speeches carried the authority of experience, his humour disarmed hostile rooms, and his media interactions reflected a man deeply aware of power and its mechanics.

As a journalist, I watched Ajit Pawar closely for years. His grasp of administration, his instinct for negotiation, and his understanding of Maharashtra's political anatomy were not inherited gifts. They were earned, slowly and painfully, through electoral battles, internal party conflicts, criticism, and survival. His death has caused...