Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dies in Baramati Plane Crash

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dies in Baramati Plane Crash

Baramati, Maharashtra:
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar tragically died on Wednesday morning after his aircraft crash-landed during an emergency landing attempt at Baramati airport. The crash also claimed the lives of the two pilots and two of Ajit Pawar’s security personnel—a personal security officer and an attendant.

The DGCA confirmed that all five people on board the Mumbai-to-Baramati chartered Bombardier Learjet 45, owned by Delhi-based VSR, were killed. Ajit Pawar was en route to Baramati to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the plane crashed.

The Rise of Ajit ‘Dada’

Ajit Pawar, popularly known as “Dada”, was the son of Sharad Pawar’s elder brother, Anantrao Pawar. Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar district, he came from one of Maharashtra’s most influential political families, closely associated with farming and the cooperative sector.

Following the death of his father, Ajit entered politics at a young age. Despite completing education only up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level, his early entry into the political scene was supported by the prominence of his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in Maharashtra politics. At 23, Ajit was elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory in Baramati, marking the start of his political journey.

Over the decades, Ajit Pawar rose to prominence through his stronghold on Maharashtra’s cooperative sector and political acumen. He carved out his own identity, making pivotal moves, including the 2023 rebellion that split the NCP, after which he joined the NDA, becoming a major force in state politics.

Ajit Pawar’s life and career were defined by his leadership in the cooperative sector, strategic political decisions, and his long-standing influence in Maharashtra’s political landscape, earning him affection and the title of “Dada” among his supporters. His sudden death in the plane crash is a major loss for the state’s political community.