Baramati

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died this morning in a charter plane crash near Baramati airport.

Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat was also present to offer condolences. Prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders, including party chief Sharad Pawar, working president Praful Patel, state president Sunil Tatkare, and Minister Hasan Mushrif, joined family members at the venue.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was conducting investigations at the office of VSR Ventures Private Limited, the operator of the ill-fated plane. Officials were seen collecting documents as part of the probe.

Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was visibly emotional while meeting relatives, and NCP MP Supriya Sule, his cousin, was also seen mourning deeply along with other family members.

The 66-year-old Deputy CM died when the aircraft crash-landed near the runway threshold while attempting to land at Baramati airport. The accident claimed all five lives on board, including Pawar, his personal security officer, two pilots, and a flight attendant. The crash occurred around 8:48 am, prompting the DGCA and AAIB to dispatch teams to investigate the incident.

Pawar had been travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections. His last rites will be held with full state honours tomorrow at 11 am, according to the Maharashtra General Administration Department. The mortal remains will remain at Vidya Pratishthan grounds today for public homage.

In light of Pawar’s passing, CM Fadnavis declared a state holiday and three days of mourning. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all official buildings, government offices will remain closed, and no official entertainment programs will be held.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally conveyed his condolences to veteran politician Sharad Pawar over the loss of his nephew.

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Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the post for six non-consecutive terms under various governments, including those led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.