Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash in the state.
Paying tribute, Prime Minister Modi said Pawar had made a significant contribution to the development of Maharashtra and the country and was known for his proactive approach. He also extended his condolences to Pawar’s family and to the families of others who lost their lives in the accident.
“A tragic plane crash has taken place in Maharashtra this morning. This accident has snatched away Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ji and some friends from us. Ajit Dada has made a huge contribution to the development of Maharashtra and the country. He always worked proactively. I express my condolences to the family of Ajit Pawar ji and the families of others who lost their lives today,” he said.
Ajit Pawar Baramati plane crash
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday when the private aircraft they were travelling in crashed while approaching Baramati airport for landing.
Pawar was en route to Baramati to attend campaign events related to the Pune zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections when the accident occurred. All five people on board died in the crash, including Pawar, two pilots — one of them identified as First Officer Shambhavi Pathak and two members of his security detail.
The incident has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and the country, prompting an outpouring of grief from political leaders and citizens alike. However, the tragedy has also taken a political turn, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raising questions over the circumstances surrounding the crash and calling for a high-level investigation.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Pawar’s death should be thoroughly probed, with the investigation monitored by the Supreme Court. Citing reports that Pawar may have been considering a political shift, she said that under such circumstances, the crash appeared “suspicious” and could not be dismissed as a routine accident.
Ajit Pawar’s political legacy
Known affectionately as ‘Dada,’ Ajit Pawar was one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures, with a career spanning more than four decades. He served as Deputy Chief Minister for a record six non-consecutive terms and worked alongside Chief Ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar.
