Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Mumbai, Jan 28: The Maharashtra government announced a three-day period of mourning on Wednesday after the untimely death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. His cremation, with full state honours, is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m., the government confirmed.
During the mourning period, the national flag will fly at half-mast across all government buildings in the state, and no official entertainment events will be held. Additionally, all state government offices were closed on Wednesday as a mark of respect. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the cremation.
Political leaders across party lines expressed their grief and paid tribute to the late Deputy CM. Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar described Pawar’s death as “extremely painful and shocking,” highlighting his administrative acumen, decisiveness, and dedication to Maharashtra’s development. “Steadfastness, discipline, punctuality, and unwavering diligence were the prominent facets of his personality,” Shelar said, offering condolences to the Pawar family and NCP members.
Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde recalled working with Pawar for nearly two decades, praising his gentle nature, dedication, and efforts for farmers, the poor, and cooperative sectors. “This is a great loss which cannot be compensated,” Shinde said.
Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav remembered knowing Pawar since 1990, calling him straightforward, hardworking, and principled. “He never hesitated to speak clearly and worked diligently even beyond his party responsibilities. Today, Maharashtra is in shock,” he said.
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh called for a thorough investigation by the DGCA into the crash, noting similar incidents involving the aircraft operator in the past and questioning aircraft maintenance procedures.
AICC in-charge for Telangana, Manikrao Thakre, summed up the sentiment across the state: “His sudden passing is a great loss, not just to the party but to the entire public of Maharashtra. The entire state shares in this grief today.”
The tragic death of Ajit Pawar, a stalwart in Maharashtra politics and a key figure in the NCP, has left the state and the nation in deep mourning.