There is a ruckus on about the Shahid Balwa and Sharad Pawar connection. But Balwa was first associated with the Karunanidhi family. He was once the frontman of T R Baalu. He emerged at the treasurer for Dramuk, before which he had just two restaurants running in Mumbai. But since his connection with Karunanidhi, Balwa came into unprecedented wealth. He first came in contact with Vinod Goenka, who introduced him to Sharad Pawar.