India, Feb. 22 -- When a senior political leader dies suddenly, families and parties often close ranks, and the questions from the public are usually measured, if not muted. In the case of the aircraft crash that killed former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on January 28 in Baramati, that pattern has largely held, with one striking exception.

That exception is Rohit Pawar, the 40-year-old MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed and grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar. While most members of the extended Pawar family and both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have spoken sparingly, Rohit has chosen a loud, sustained, and combative public campaign.

Four press conferences in quick succession-two each in Mumbai and Delhi, featuring ela...