New Delhi, Jan 28 (.) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the death of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, saying that he had remained committed to the development and prosperity of the state. “He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service,” Singh added.
Rajnath Singh posted on X, “Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. 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.”
Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on his social media X, “Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed. The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades cannot be expressed in words. Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me.”
He added, “I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.”
The demise of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar (66) in a plane crash in Baramati has plunged Maharashtra into mourning and shaken the state’s political landscape.
Ajit Pawar (66) was killed alongside five others when a Learjet 45 aircraft in which he was travelling crashed and exploded in a fiery catastrophe at Baramati Airport on the morning of January 28, 2026.
The tragic accident, confirmed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), occurred between 8:45 and 8:48 am. The VT-SSK aircraft, a nine-seater Bombardier Learjet 45 operated by VSR Aviation, was attempting to land following a flight from Mumbai. Pawar had been actively campaigning for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
The jet, carrying five confirmed occupants—Pawar, his personal security officer, an attendant, the pilot-in-command, and the first officer—veered off the runway, plunged into a nearby field, and erupted into a massive fireball. Intense flames and multiple explosions ensured there were no survivors, despite the rapid response of emergency teams.
Known affectionately across the state as “Dada” for his strong Baramati connect, Ajit Pawar was recognized for his punctuality, frankness, and resilience. He had attended a cabinet meeting in Mumbai on the evening of January 27 and was scheduled for four campaign events in Baramati the following day, including a major rally at 11 AM.
Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar, Ajit Pawar began his political career in the Congress in 1982 under the mentorship of his uncle, Sharad Pawar. He later became a cornerstone of the NCP, serving as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister for six non-consecutive terms under multiple coalition governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
. MI .