Ajit Pawar Dies in Plane Crash Near Baramati; Nitish Kumar, Bihar Leaders Mourn Irreparable Loss to Indian Politics

Patna:
In a tragic turn of events, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all six people on board the aircraft lost their lives in the accident.

Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address an election rally when the aircraft crashed during landing around 9 am. The impact triggered a massive fire, leaving no survivors. The news sent shockwaves across political circles nationwide, with leaders from Bihar and other states expressing deep grief and shock.

Nitish Kumar Expresses Deep Sorrow

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief over Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise, calling the incident “extremely painful and heartbreaking.” In his condolence message, Nitish Kumar described Pawar as a hardworking, efficient, and seasoned leader who made significant contributions to Maharashtra’s political landscape.

“His demise is not only a loss to Maharashtra but an irreparable loss to the political and social life of the entire nation,” the Chief Minister said, praying for peace to the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.

Condolences from Bihar’s Deputy CMs and Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha termed the incident “deeply distressing,” stating that Ajit Pawar was a strong pillar of the NCP and a leader who left an indelible mark on public life. He prayed for courage and strength for Pawar’s family, supporters, and party colleagues.

Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary also expressed anguish, describing the crash as “heart-rending,” and extended condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise and conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, and supporters of the late leader.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav also mourned the death, calling it an “extremely painful news” and demanded a high-level inquiry into the plane crash.

Details of the Crash

Visuals from the crash site showed burning wreckage, thick smoke, and emergency teams rushing victims to nearby hospitals. According to Pune Police, the bodies have been shifted to Baramati Medical College for post-mortem examination. DGCA officials and senior security personnel are present at the site, and emergency services continue relief operations.

Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, son Parth Pawar, NCP leaders Praful Patel and Supriya Sule were reportedly in Delhi at the time of the incident.

A Veteran Leader and Sharad Pawar’s Nephew

Sixty-six-year-old Ajit Pawar was a veteran politician and the nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar. He was serving as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister in the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alongside Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. As NCP national president, Ajit Pawar played a key role in shaping Maharashtra’s contemporary political dynamics.

His sudden demise has left a deep void in Indian politics, with leaders across party lines mourning the loss of a seasoned administrator and mass leader.