Daijiworld Media Network – Baramati
Baramati (Maharashtra), Jan 28: Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Anantrao Pawar died on Wednesday morning after the aircraft he was travelling in crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airport in Pune district, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred during an emergency landing attempt at Baramati early on Wednesday, as Pawar was on his way to address several public meetings ahead of the upcoming zilla parishad elections.
According to initial reports, the Learjet 45 aircraft — chartered from Mumbai — veered off the runway and broke apart upon impact. Thick smoke and wreckage were seen at the crash site. The exact cause is yet to be determined and is expected to be investigated by aviation authorities.
Authorities have confirmed that Pawar and several others on board were killed in the crash. Early reports suggest a total of five to six fatalities, including Pawar, crew members and possibly security personnel, though exact numbers are still being verified by officials.
Born in 1959, Ajit Pawar was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics and a senior leader of the NCP. He served multiple terms as a legislator and held key portfolios in the state government, including finance and planning, earning widespread recognition as an architect of the state’s budgetary policies. His sudden death has sent shockwaves across the state’s political landscape.
Rescue and emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene following the crash. Local hospitals have been involved in treatment and identification efforts. The state government has announced that further information, including official casualty figures and details of the DGCA investigation, will be released as soon as possible.
State leaders and political figures across India have expressed deep sorrow and paid tribute to Pawar’s long years of public service.