Maharashtra woke up to shock and grief on Wednesday as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a towering figure in state politics, died in a plane crash near Baramati. Hours after the tragic death of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed sorrow at the loss. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis announced three days of state mourning to honour Pawar’s contributions to the state and its people.
Commenting on Ajit Pawar’s contributions, CM Fadnavis said, "He was a leader connected to the ground. The passing of Ajit Dada Pawar is deeply saddening. There is grief in his family and among all of us." He added that Pawar was his strong and generous friend. "This is a difficult day for the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have spoken to us regarding this accident," Fadnavis added.
The Maharashtra government has declared holiday for all the government offices in the state and announced three-day state mourning.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died along with three others when the aircraft carrying them crashed near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. The plane was attempting to land at Baramati when it lost control and crashed, according to early reports. The aircraft reportedly caught fire upon impact. The incident has prompted an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Baramati observed a bandh on Wednesday to pay tribute to Ajit Pawar. Residents honoured the leader, who remained closely connected to the region. Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati for a series of rallies ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections and was scheduled to address four events.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has ordered a two-day shutdown of the city following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati. The closure, intended as a mark of respect, will see most commercial activities paused while essential services continue. Residents are urged to cooperate, and increased police deployment is planned during the shutdown.
