Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 28: The Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the break-away group of the regional party launched by the veteran leader and his uncle Sharad Pawar, died in a tragic plane crash in his home town Baramati on Wednesday.
Four others, including the pilot of the plane Learjet 45, operated by a company called VSR, and his security details were also killed in the crash which occurred just as the small aircraft, which took off from Mumbai at 8.10 AM was trying to land at the Baramati airport around 8.50 AM.
The 66-year old leader was flying from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a series of meetings and other engagements in connection with the coming panchayat elections in the state. Visuals from the spot show fire and smoke, mangled remains of the plane, and ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said all five passengers on board died in the crash.
Ajit Pawar was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. Sharad Pawar and Sule, who were in Delhi for the Parliament’s budget session, immediately left for Pune. Ajit Pawar is survived by wife Sunetra, and sons Parth and Jay.
Ajit Pawar served as Deputy Chief Minister under four Chief Ministers: Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis. In 2023, Ajit Pawar led the mutiny in NCP that split the party into two factions: one led by him and the other by his uncle Sharad Pawar. He later joined the NDA government and became Deputy Chief Minister. Lately, however, there were talks of an NCP reunion, and the two factions contested the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation together.
Another Learjet 45 aircraft had crashed in September, 2023, in Mumbai. According to flight tracker, flightradar24, the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and disappeared from radar around 8.45 am. Flightradar24 said the plane was attempting a second landing when it crashed.
Sources said the aircraft pilot had mentioned poor visibility near the runway before the aircraft attempted the landing. Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said after the crash, a fire broke out. “People on-board were immediately taken to the hospital,” he said.
The other Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the air crash would be probed. “Extremely painful and unfortunate incident. One couldn’t even have dreamt of such a misfortune. This is sad news for Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar had a strong grip on administration. He was studious and articulate,” Mr Shinde said.
President Droupadi Murmu took to X and expressed her condolences and said, “The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic.”
“The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow,” the president said.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pawar’s untimely death as “shocking and saddening.” “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots-level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he said on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is learnt to have left for Pune after getting information about the crash. In a post on X, the Union Home Minister said he was “deeply pained.” “The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section in Maharashtra cannot be described in words. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me.” “I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family,” Mr Shah said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said he was “deeply shocked and pained.” “Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the news of Ajit Pawar’s death was “deeply shocking and profoundly distressing.” “It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately express the immense grief that the bereaved family must be enduring during this difficult hour. I extend my deepest condolences to the entire Pawar family, his supporters and well-wishers,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi took to X and expressed condolences over the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. “The news of the demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar Ji and his fellow travelers in an airplane accident today is extremely heart-breaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow,” Mr Gandhi said.
