Ajit Pawar’s Last Election Triumph Came from Ahilyanagar, Highlighting His Special Bond with the City

Ahmednagar/Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati. While he was born in Ahmednagar, his political and personal ties with Baramati were unbreakable. It was in this city that he breathed his last and where he won the hearts of countless supporters over decades.

Ajit Pawar, who held the post of Deputy CM for 9 years and 305 days, had a long-standing connection with Baramati, representing it in elections nine times. His sudden death has plunged the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) into mourning, and Maharashtra has declared a three-day state mourning period. Pawar’s supporters, friends, and well-wishers are struggling to come to terms with the loss.

After the NCP’s weak performance in municipal elections across 29 cities, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pawar was actively preparing for district council elections to stage a political comeback. He had traveled to Baramati for the purpose, but the chartered plane crashed before a safe landing could be made.

Ahilyanagar Brings ‘Good News’

Apart from Baramati, Ahilyanagar—formerly part of Ahmednagar—held a special place in Ajit Pawar’s heart. In the 2026 municipal elections, while NCP struggled to secure wins in its strongholds like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, it found success in Ahilyanagar, delivering much-needed relief to Pawar. Of the 68 seats across 17 wards, NCP secured 27, BJP 25, Shinde’s Shiv Sena 10, BSP 1, and one seat went to Uddhav Thackeray’s party. The remaining four seats were won by Congress and smaller parties.

Ajit Pawar was born in Deolali, Ahmednagar (previously part of Nasik), and his mother, Asha Pawar, hailed from the region. His maternal family home was in Pravara, Rahuri. This deep-rooted connection made Ahilyanagar’s electoral victory personally meaningful for him, even as the party faced setbacks elsewhere.

NCP Holds Majority Alone

Despite internal factional challenges and strong competition from BJP and other parties, NCP maintained its majority in Ahilyanagar. The party’s political influence in western Maharashtra, particularly in Baramati, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, remains significant. Notably, Ajit Pawar’s nephew, Rohit Pawar, represents the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency under the Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Nilesh Lanke from Sharad Pawar’s faction.

Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise marks a profound loss not just for his family and the NCP, but for Maharashtra politics at large, where his decades-long leadership and grassroots connections left an indelible mark.