Maharashtra Grieves As Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Cremated With Full State Honours

Maharashtra bid a tearful final farewell to Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday.

Authorities cremated the senior Nationalist Congress Party leader with full state honours at Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati.

A sombre mood prevailed as thousands gathered, chanting ‘Ekach Wada, Ajit Dada,’ reflecting his deep grassroots connect.

The 66-year-old leader lost his life in a tragic aviation accident on Wednesday, which also claimed four other lives.

Ajit Pawar’s eldest son, Parth Pawar, performed the last rites. He lit the funeral pyre around noon.

Supporters, party workers, and residents filled the grounds. Many raised slogans of ‘Ajit Dada Amar Rahe,’ expressing collective mourning.

Earlier, officials placed his mortal remains at his Katewadi residence. People from across Maharashtra arrived in large numbers to pay respects.

The steady flow of visitors underscored his lasting influence in state politics.

Leaders Across the Political Spectrum

Senior leaders across party lines visited the family. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray paid condolences to Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Pawar, and the bereaved family.

The funeral drew an unusually broad political presence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the ceremony along with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nitin Gadkari and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also took part in the ceremony. Veteran leader Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle, stood at the centre of the gathering.

Leaders and supporters remembered Ajit Pawar as a decisive administrator. Many described him as a direct communicator with firm control over governance.

A local supporter said one word from ‘Dada’ often resolved complex issues.

The DGCA said the aircraft left Mumbai at 8:10 AM for campaign events in Baramati taluka.

Around 8:45 AM, the plane overshot the runway and crashed, bursting into flames. There were no survivors.

The victims included Ajit Pawar, Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several national leaders expressed grief.

As Maharashtra mourns, focus shifts to leadership continuity and the political and economic impact on the NCP.

Also Read: Black Box Recovered As Aviation Ministry Assures Swift Probe Into Baramati Plane Crash