The incident was a reflection of the late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader’s impeccable comic timing and earthy wit, which often kept audiences enthralled, breaking political monotony. It remained one of the key features of his speeches, media interactions and meetings.

Interestingly, Shinde responded to Pawar’s viral joke with an even smarter response. “Dada (Ajitdada) is experienced in taking oath in the morning and also at night,” he said in Hindi, a clear reference to Pawar and Fadnavis taking oath in a morning ceremony at Raj Bhavan in 2019. The comment drew even bigger laughter and applause from Pawar himself.

In another speech given in Pune A few months ago, Pawar told the audience how the government facilitated visits by some students to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States. At that point, Pawar received a note from the audience, which he read aloud. The note asked him about the control of stray cattle in a particular town. Visibly irritated while reading the note, Pawar became amused the next moment. “How do you react to this now? Here I am talking about a visit to NASA, here you ask about stray cattle.” In his trademark comical tone, Pawar said, “Bring the person who sent this note. I will congratulate him by breaking the ceremonial coconut on his head.”

In the next sentence, however, Pawar spoke in detail about how the problem of stray animals could be addressed.

Film and theater actor Sayaji Shinde, associated with the NCP since 2024, said, “I have always believed that humor comes from being grounded. Ajitdada was deeply rooted in reality. His firm grasp of administrative, political and social issues gave him a sharp and astute insight, and sharp humor, after all, comes from keen observation. He also had an effortless command over the Marathi of the masses, which made his wit immediately identifiable. This side lighter was not limited to public speeches; it also extended to personal interactions. Once, when he could not reach someone, he casually said to his assistant: “Ja re te kuthe ulathala aahe bagh”, an earthy phrase meaning “go check where he has been knocked down”.

However, his blunt, unfiltered humor also sparked controversy at times. More than 12 years ago, during a speech at Indapur in Pune, his comments relating to water shortages from dams had drawn criticism from both the opposition and his own party leaders for mocking farmers reeling from drought, prompting him to apologise.