India, Jan. 29 -- Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar exercised firm control over Pune city and district for decades, cutting across political affiliations and changes in government. Despite working under chief ministers from rival parties - Congress's Prithviraj Chavan, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray and Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Devendra Fadnavis - Pawar ensured that he retained a free hand in the district's administration.

Pune, Pawar's home district, remained central to his politics. With brief exceptions, Pawar held the post of guardian minister of Pune district for most of his political career. Only for a few years did the responsibility shift to late BJP leader Girish Bapat, and later to Chandrakant Patil.

Known for his deep fa...