The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were performed with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, as family members, political leaders and thousands of supporters gathered to bid farewell to one of the state’s most influential leaders. Pawar’s sons carried out the final rituals and lit the funeral pyre in the presence of close relatives and senior dignitaries.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and actor Riteish Deshmukh were among those who attended the funeral. Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde and his daughter, Praniti Shinde, were also present. Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and his sons Jay and Parth Pawar stood alongside family members as state honours were accorded.
A large crowd assembled at the venue as chants of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” echoed while the mortal remains were brought to the ground. The turnout reflected the widespread public grief following Pawar’s death in a plane crash on Wednesday morning in Baramati. He was travelling to attend a public rally linked to the Zilla Parishad elections when the aircraft crash-landed, killing him and five others.
Earlier in the day, teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and forensic experts reached the crash site to begin an investigation. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and senior police officials, including the Maharashtra Director General of Police, were present during the inspection. Pune Rural Police confirmed that an Accidental Death Report has been registered at Baramati Taluka Police Station, with further investigation underway.
Union Minister Raksha Khadse described the incident as heartbreaking, saying Maharashtra had lost a leader deeply connected to grassroots issues. She said Pawar played a significant role in the state’s development and maintained close ties with people in rural areas.
Born on July 22, 1959, in Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar was widely known as “Ajit Dada” for his direct style and long association with cooperative institutions, including sugar factories, milk unions and banks. His political career took shape under the guidance of his uncle Sharad Pawar and expanded over decades, spanning roles as MLA, Union minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
Pawar served as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister for six non-consecutive terms across multiple governments, making him the longest-serving holder of the post. Despite political splits within the Nationalist Congress Party, he maintained a complex yet enduring relationship with his uncle. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.
