Maharashtra’s political landscape turned somber on January 28, 2026, when Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash during an attempted landing in Baramati, Pune district, Maharashtra. The tragedy shocked the state and the nation, ending the life of one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders in a sudden and violent accident that also claimed multiple lives.
What Happened
Early on Wednesday morning, Ajit Pawar boarded a chartered Learjet 45 from Mumbai, where he had attended government meetings and planned a trip to his home region. The aircraft carried Pawar, his security personnel, an attendant, and two crew members. All six people aboard lost their lives when the plane crash-landed at Baramati airport while attempting to touch down.
Eyewitnesses described the aircraft hitting the ground with violent force, skidding off the runway and bursting into flames almost immediately. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but the impact proved unsurvivable for everyone on board. Debris and twisted metal lay scattered in the crash zone, and fire crews worked under difficult conditions to secure the site.
Immediate Aftermath and Official Confirmation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the crash resulted in no survivors and that all six onboard died. Authorities faced an early challenge in piecing together what went wrong, as preliminary investigations pointed toward a loss of control during landing. Investigators must now analyze flight data recorders, weather conditions, runway setup, and mechanical integrity of the plane.
Local police and rescue teams cordoned off the crash site as investigators arrived to begin their inquiries. The airport, a smaller regional facility near Pawar’s political stronghold, saw a sudden influx of officials, investigators, and grieving supporters.
Why He Was Traveling
Ajit Pawar planned to attend multiple political events in Baramati related to upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. He sought to galvanize party workers and voters for the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) efforts in local governance polls. Baramati served as both his hometown and political base, where he built his career over decades.
Who Ajit Pawar Was
Ajit Anantrao Pawar stood as one of Maharashtra’s longest-serving politicians. He rose from local cooperative leadership into state and national prominence. Beginning his public life in the early 1980s with cooperative sugar factories and the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank, he used those early networks to launch a successful electoral career.
Pawar clinched his first legislative seat in a 1991 by-election and won multiple terms from Baramati Assembly constituency over the next decades. He also served as a Member of Parliament and later relinquished that role for his uncle, Sharad Pawar, to strengthen family political influence.
He held the office of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times under governments led by different chief ministers and across shifting political alliances. Pawar gained special respect for his work on finance and planning, especially in budgeting and cooperative reforms.
In 2019, he brokered a split in the NCP to join the then-ruling alliance in Maharashtra, eventually securing recognition from the Election Commission in 2024 for his faction. Across all these roles, he commanded influence in Pune district and statewide governance circles.
Political and Public Reactions
Leaders from across India reacted with shock and grief to Pawar’s death. Rivals and allies alike paused political sparring to convey condolences, reflecting his stature in Maharashtra politics. National figures called his demise an “immense loss” to public life.
In Baramati and Pune, supporters gathered at hospitals and political offices, expressing disbelief and mourning. Party workers lowered flags and shifted campaign activities into a period of mourning. The sudden nature of the crash compounded the grief, leaving many supporters searching for answers and comfort.
Impact on Maharashtra Politics
Ajit Pawar’s death raises immediate questions about the future of leadership within his faction of the NCP and the broader coalition dynamics in Maharashtra’s government. His experience and political weight shaped many negotiations and policy directions in recent years. Analysts warn that his absence may lead to shifts in coalition alignments, internal party restructuring, and potential election strategy recalibrations.
Opposition parties have also expressed sympathy, recognizing the tragedy’s impact on the state’s political and administrative functioning. Some have already called for unity in governance to ensure stability in the wake of the crash.
Crash Investigation and Safety Questions
The DGCA and aviation experts have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash. They must examine whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or runway conditions played any role. The Baramati airport, a smaller regional strip not designed for frequent large-jet operations, now faces scrutiny over equipment, runway length, and emergency preparedness.
Preliminary video evidence shows the plane hitting the ground hard and breaking apart. Local officials described the aircraft losing balance just as it approached the runway threshold, suggesting a possible misalignment or technical failure in touchdown phase.
Experts emphasize that accident investigations take time. They will need to collect flight recorders, review maintenance logs, pilot training records, weather data at the time of landing, and communications between the cockpit and air traffic control. Only after these details emerge can authorities draw conclusions about causation and recommend safety improvements.
Legacy and Reflections
Ajit Pawar’s death leaves a complex legacy. Devotees remember him as a tireless worker for rural development, cooperative empowerment, and fiscal policymaking. Critics point to political controversies and internal party feuds, but most observers agree his influence shaped Maharashtra governance for decades.
In Baramati, where he built relationships with farmers, workers, and local leaders, residents now confront the sudden void left by his absence. Across Maharashtra, policymakers and the public reflect on the unpredictability of life and the risks even experienced leaders face when traveling in service of their duties.
As the crash investigation unfolds, Maharashtra prepares to honor Pawar’s contributions officially while grappling with the practical implications of his loss in an active political career that showed no signs of slowing down.
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