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In a somber atmosphere that gripped the entire state, Maharashtra bid a final farewell to its Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, Ajit Pawar, today in his ancestral stronghold of Baramati. The 66-year-old veteran leader was cremated with full state honours on Thursday, January 29, 2026, following a tragic plane crash that occurred just a day prior.
The Final Journey: “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe”
The final rites took place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground at approximately 11:00 AM. Tens of thousands of supporters and party workers from across Maharashtra descended upon Baramati to catch a final glimpse of their leader, often referred to affectionately as “Dada.”
- Political Presence: The funeral saw a rare gathering of leaders from across the political spectrum. Dignitaries present included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar.
- The Rituals: The mortal remains, draped in the national flag, were brought in a flower-decked procession from his native village, Katewadi. His sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, performed the final rites and lit the funeral pyre amid emotional chants of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” (Long live Ajit Dada).
Details of the Tragic Accident
The tragedy unfolded on the morning of Wednesday, January 28, when a chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 (registered as VT-SSK) carrying the Deputy CM crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airstrip.
- The Mission: Ajit Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to address a series of public rallies ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
- The Crash: According to preliminary reports from the DGCA and eyewitness accounts, the aircraft struggled with low visibility during its final descent. It reportedly circled once before tilting sharply and crashing into an open field roughly 200 meters short of the runway, where it immediately exploded into a fireball.
- The Victims: All five individuals on board perished in the crash. Alongside Ajit Pawar, the victims included his personal security officer (Vidip Jadhav), a flight attendant (Pinky Mali), and the two pilots, Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Shambhavi Pathak.
State Mourning and Investigation
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared three days of state mourning* and a public holiday as a mark of respect. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all government buildings.
- Investigation Underway: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has already recovered the aircraft’s Black Box (Flight Data Recorder). Investigators are looking into technical failure and the lack of advanced navigational aids at the Baramati airstrip as potential factors.
- Market Impact: Trading hubs in Pune and Nashik remained closed today as local associations joined in the mourning, reflecting the deep impact Pawar had on the state’s cooperative and agricultural sectors.
“A towering leader and a hardworking personality has been snatched away from us. Ajit Dada’s passion for the empowerment of the poor was legendary.” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X.
