The state of Maharashtra mourns the loss of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who perished in a plane accident on January 28, 2026. Pawar had a long and distinguished career in state politics, serving as a leader of several parties and as a member of Parliament. He was 66 at the time of his death.
The accident occurred while the Learjet 45XR was making its final approach to Baramati Airport (BJP), located about 25 miles south of Pune, India. During the flight, Pawar attended a Cabinet meeting in Mumbai and was flying back to Pune. The aircraft registered VT-SSK to a private operator was chartered to transport Pawar and his entourage from Mumbai to Pune.
Aircraft Loses Control During Approach
The DGCA confirmed that the aircraft lost control on final approach and crashed approximately 250 metres short of the runway threshold. Smoke and debris were seen in the videos released by local media, confirming the incidents of the crash. There were no survivors on board, which included Ajit Pawar, the security, attendants, and the pilots of the aircraft.
Emergency services responded, and although an investigation of the scene is ongoing, the DGCA reports there was no evidence of survivors. Ajit Pawar was scheduled to attend a number of public events in Baramati preceding the Zilla Parishad elections when this tragic accident took place.
Political Life and Legacy
Ajit Anantrao Pawar was born on 22 July 1959 in Ahmednagar district in the state of Maharashtra, India, to an influential political family that has shaped the political landscape of Maharashtra since its inception. He began his career in politics at the grassroots level and worked his way up through the ranks of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as a six-time MLA for the Baramati constituency. In addition, he has held many other important ministerial posts, including Planning, Water Resources, Energy, Rural Development, and State Excise. As an expert in finance, Ajit has earned considerable respect from both parties in Maharashtra due to his contribution to the creation of many of the state’s major budgets and budgetary policies. Ajit has also worked closely with several different Chief Ministers from various political parties and has proved he can adapt to changing political climates as well as have significant influence over the direction of the political process in Maharashtra. Following the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, he was instrumental in forming a coalition government and appointed Deputy Chief Minister for four subsequent administrations. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar (Member of Parliament), and two sons, Parth and Jay Pawar.
National Reaction and Mourning
Reactions of political leaders from throughout the country have been mixed with sensitivity to the loss of Pawar. Reactions to this terrible incident from the political leaders of India included expressions of sympathy and support from the two principal leaders of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached out to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.
Leaders from all other regions of India have expressed their condolences for the loss of Mr. Pawar. Many members of Parliament, state legislators, and political workers have expressed their sympathy for Mr. Pawar and have taken the time to publicly acknowledge his contributions to the development of India through governance, infrastructure, and rural development.
Public outcry regarding the tragic incident was mixed with a sense of disbelief. As news of the accident spread through both social media and live updates, many people found it difficult to believe what had just happened.
The Indian Aviation Safety Director General of Civil Aviation has confirmed that they have begun a preliminary investigation into the reasons for the accident. After the preliminary investigation is completed, the DGCA will begin a full technical investigation to determine how and why the aircraft failed during its landing sequence.
Local authorities have established a cordon around the site of the incident. Investigators have begun collecting evidence, and Baramati Airport will remain closed until all evidence has been examined. Further investigations and statements regarding the crash site will be released in the near future.
What This Means for Maharashtra
Pawar’s passing creates a void in leadership within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra due to his position as head of the NCP following the party’s recent name change and allocation of a new symbol under which his faction, the NCP, will contest elections in 2024.
Summary
He was among the longest-serving legislators in the state, and as such, the amount of knowledge and expertise that he possessed regarding Maharashtra’s politics, administration, and electoral processes is considerable. Therefore, as leaders in the state’s political and administrative systems begin to fill the void created by his death, it is highly likely that there will be significant discussions about the future of the state and potential removal or reorganization of senior level political appointments within the state government.
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