Ajit Kumar Panja was born in Kolkata on 13 September 1936. His father was Dhanapati Panja.[citation needed]
Apart from political career he started performing on stage theatre in the role of "Sri Ramakrishma Paramhansa" in the play "Sri Sri Ramakrishna" (made according to the story of Noti Binodini written by Late. Brajendra Kishore Dey) organised by Kolkata High Court Advocate's Drama Association in India. The play was staged in London and USA (Washington, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles).
1986 Union Minister of State, Food and Civil Supplies
1986-88 Union Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge)
1988-89 Union Minister of State, Finance
1989 Re-elected to 9th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
1990 Member, Committee of Privileges Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance
1990-91 Member, Committee on Public Accounts Member, Informal Consultative
Committee, Railway Zone
1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
1991-93 Union Minister of State, Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge)
1993-95 Union Minister of State, Coal (Independent Charge)
1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (4th term)
1996-97 Member, Committee on Energy Member, Business Advisory Committee
1998 Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (5th term) Chief Whip, West Bengal Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party
1998-99 Member, Committee on Industry Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment Chairman, West Bengal Trinamool Congress
1999 Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (6th term)
13 Oct 1999 to 2004 Union Minister of State, External Affairs