The ‘Baramati Strongman’ and six-term Maharashtra Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, 66, passed away after his private jet crashed at Baramati in Pune district
In a catastrophic blow to Indian politics, Ajit Pawar — Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief — passed away after his chartered aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati in Pune district today (Jan 28) morning.
The Learjet 45, operated by VSR, reportedly lost control at the runway threshold and exploded upon impact at approximately 8:45 am.
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that there were no survivors among the five personnel on board, which included Pawar, a personal security officer, an attendant, and two pilots.
A Life Rooted in the Soil of Baramati
Born on July 22, 1959, Ajit Pawar was the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar. Following the early death of his father, Anantrao Pawar, Ajit was mentored by his uncle, entering public life in 1982 via the cooperative sector, the backbone of Maharashtra’s rural economy.
By 1991, he had established himself as a formidable administrator, serving as the chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank for 16 years.
His electoral journey began that same year, winning both the Baramati Lok Sabha seat (which he later vacated for Sharad Pawar) and the Baramati Assembly seat.
He would go on to represent the constituency for eight consecutive terms, winning his final election in November 2024 by a landslide margin of over one lakh votes.
The “Forever Deputy CM”: A Legacy of Power
Known affectionately as “Dada” by his supporters, Ajit Pawar was widely regarded as one of the most efficient administrators in the state’s history.
Administrative Might: Holding key portfolios like Finance, Irrigation, and Water Resources across multiple governments.
Political Resilience: Serving a record six terms as Deputy Chief Minister under four different Chief Ministers (Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde).
The 2023 Shift: In a move that redefined state politics, he split the NCP in July 2023 to join the Mahayuti alliance, eventually securing the party name and symbol.
National Leaders React
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “deep shock” at the news, describing Pawar as a “leader of the people with a strong grassroots connect.” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and leaders across the political spectrum have termed his death an “irreparable loss” to the state.
“Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters was noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking,” PM Narendra Modi wrote on ‘X’.
Political Timeline of Ajit Pawar
Year Milestone
1982 Entered politics via the cooperative sugar factory board.
1991 Elected as Baramati MLA for the first time; held the seat until his death.
2010 Appointed Deputy Chief Minister for the first time.
2019 The “80-hour government” drama; took oath with Devendra Fadnavis.
2023 Led a major split in the NCP to join the BJP-Sena alliance.
2024 Won Baramati by 1 lakh+ votes; sworn in as Deputy CM for the 6th time.
The state government has declared a period of mourning as the mortal remains are brought to Baramati Medical College.
He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and two sons, Parth and Jay.
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