PUNE: Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar and five others on board died after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati town of Pune district on Wednesday morning.The plane, a Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR, crashed while attempting an emergency landing at around 8.45am, according to officials and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Ajit Pawar was on board along with two other personnel — a personal security officer and an attendant — and two crew members, including the pilot-in-command and first officer. As per initial information, no one on board survived the crash.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah contacted Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to receive updates on the incident, the state government said.His MP cousin and Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, left for Maharashtra after learning about Ajit Pawar’s demise. Prominent leaders from across political parties in Maharashtra have started gathering at the Pawar residence.
Pawar was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections.
Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present.dUnion defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, saying he was “deeply shocked and pained” by the untimely demise. In a condolence message, Singh said Ajit Pawar remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra throughout his long public life and was widely known for his compassion for the people and unwavering dedication to public service. He extended his heartfelt condolences to Pawar’s family, well-wishers and admirers.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said to news agency ANI, "This is very shocking, painful and heart-rending.
There have been differences between us, but we have worked together. He was a really committed man who kept to his work. I express my sympathies to Pawar sahab, Supriya ji, Sunetra ji, Parth and Jay. I also express sympathies to lakhs and crores of people in Baramati… Going away like this is very painful."Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also mourned the Deputy CM, he said, "I always did what he said. He was a bold man. He had a big role in the development of the Baramati region.
I express my condolences to the entire Pawar family." Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "This is a really unfortunate incident.Reports are coming in that Ajit Pawar was also onboard. If it is true, then this is a highly unfortunate day. This is a heart-rending incident. May God give strength to the affected families.He was not just the Deputy CM of Maharashtra but also a well-known politician in the country. This is an irreparable loss."DGCA occurrence report details:
- Personnel on board: 5 (including crew)
- Details: Aircraft crash-landed at Baramati; all on board died
Visuals from the crash site showed the aircraft’s wreckage engulfed in flames, as local villagers and emergency responders gathered at the spot.Born into a political family, Ajit Pawar was married to Sunetra Pawar and is survived by two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar. He began his political journey in 1982, elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory. In 1991, he became the chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank, cementing his influence in local politics. Ajit Pawar was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 from the Baramati constituency but later vacated the seat for his uncle, Sharad Pawar. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seven times from Baramati, winning in a 1991 by-election and subsequently in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014. In November 2019, he played a key role in a split within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, once again assuming the post of Deputy Chief Minister. In February 2024, the Election Commission recognized his faction as the official NCP, awarding it the party name and symbol. Ajit Pawar’s political career spanned more than four decades, marked by his significant contributions to Maharashtra’s governance and development, especially in the Baramati region.
Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
