A wave of sorrow enveloped Baramati in Pune district on Thursday as Maharashtra mourned the loss of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who tragically died in a plane crash. His final rites were conducted with full state honors.
Among the attendees was actor Riteish Deshmukh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who came to pay his respects. Prominent political figures, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, close to the Pawar family’s hometown, roughly 100 km from Pune. A crowd of thousands assembled, chanting “Ajit Dada amar rahe” as his body, covered in the national flag, was transported from his village, Katewadi, to the ceremony.
As the funeral pyre was ignited by Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar observed in silence. His younger brother Prataprao Pawar was also in attendance. Numerous leaders, including Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Rahul Narwekar, paid their floral tributes. Ajit Pawar’s siblings and other family members, including his cousin Supriya Sule, a Lok Sabha member from Baramati, comforted Sunetra Pawar as she honored her late husband.
Riteish Deshmukh shared his profound sadness over Ajit Pawar’s sudden passing, describing him as “one of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders.” He commended Pawar’s work ethic, humor, and forthrightness. In a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter), Riteish lamented the void left by Pawar’s untimely departure and expressed his condolences to the Pawar family, friends, and supporters.
Ajit Pawar lost his life in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all six passengers aboard, including Pawar, perished in the accident, which occurred during landing shortly after takeoff from Mumbai.