Bhopal

Political leaders from Madhya Pradesh, cutting across party lines, on Wednesday mourned the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, remembering him as a committed public servant who devoted his life to the welfare and development of his state.

Ajit Pawar (66) and four others lost their lives after a chartered aircraft crashed near Baramati in Maharashtra’s Pune district earlier in the day. He was travelling from Mumbai to his hometown Baramati, where he was scheduled to address public meetings.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed deep sorrow over Pawar’s untimely demise, describing him as a grounded and people-centric leader. In a post on X, Yadav said Pawar remained dedicated to the upliftment of the poor, marginalised and backward sections of society and made significant contributions to Maharashtra’s progress.

Union Agriculture Minister and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he was stunned by the tragic news and found it difficult to accept that Pawar was no longer alive. Calling Pawar a close friend and associate, Chouhan said his role as an able administrator, seasoned politician and visionary leader would always be remembered. He added that Pawar’s death had created an irreparable void in Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath also condoled Pawar’s death, stating that Indian politics had suffered a major loss. He said Pawar dedicated his entire life to public service and to the people of Maharashtra, and prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.

Another former chief minister, Digvijaya Singh, said he was deeply shocked by the news of Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash. Expressing condolences to Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and the family, Singh said he prayed for strength and courage for them to endure the profound loss.

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Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari described the news as extremely painful and heartbreaking. He said Pawar’s sudden demise had left the political fraternity in shock and offered prayers for peace to the departed soul and resilience for the family and supporters during this difficult time.