Baramati Mourns as Former Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Laid to Rest with State Honors

Baramati, Jan 2026: The funeral procession of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar commenced in Baramati on Thursday, drawing thousands of mourners who lined the streets to pay their final respects. Supporters showered flowers and offered tearful tributes as the mortal remains of the veteran politician were carried from his residence to the Vidya Pratishthan grounds, where the last rites were performed with full state honors.

The tragedy struck on Wednesday morning when a small aircraft carrying Pawar lost control while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district. Five people, including Pawar and the flight crew, perished on the spot. The other victims included two pilots, a flight attendant, and a personal security officer. The aircraft, a Learjet 45, had been chartered for travel within the state.

Ajit Pawar’s funeral was scheduled for 11 AM at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds, his hometown. Reports confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and several senior leaders from across the political spectrum. Present also were family members, including Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, Rajya Sabha MP; his sons Parth and Jay Pawar; and his younger brother Srinivas Pawar.

From the early hours, Baramati and its surrounding areas witnessed an outpouring of grief. In Katewadi, Ajit Pawar’s ancestral village, hundreds of mourners gathered outside his residence, chanting slogans such as “Ajit Dada Amar Rahein” (Long Live Ajit Dada) and “Ajit Dada Come Back”. People from nearby villages, along with NCP workers and local residents, joined the procession, sharing heartfelt memories of the leader who shaped the region over four decades.

Many mourners praised Pawar’s commitment to local development. Ganpat Thombre, a resident of Katewadi, expressed his sorrow: “It has been 24 hours since this tragic incident took our leader away from us. I still can’t believe that Dada is no more. Even though he was the Deputy Chief Minister, he paid full attention to Katewadi, Khatalpatti, Songaon, and surrounding villages. He helped my granddaughter get admission to a medical college and transformed this area by building roads and schools. A leader of his stature will never come again.”

Chandrakant Mali, who travelled from Ter in Dharashiv district, described the loss as a blow to the state, calling Pawar “a gem” whose absence would be deeply felt.

During the public viewing at Pawar’s residence, dignitaries from various political parties paid their respects. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, his wife and son Amit Thackeray, actor Riteish Deshmukh, and numerous other leaders joined the grieving family, offering condolences and standing in solidarity with the Pawar family.

Following the final viewing at his residence, the procession moved toward the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground, where the last rites were conducted. The atmosphere was profoundly somber, with supporters, party workers, and locals gathered in overwhelming numbers to bid farewell to the leader they fondly called “Ajit Dada.”

At the pyre, an emotional Sunetra Pawar bowed her head in reverence and tears, surrounded by her sons Jay and Parth Pawar, who silently comforted her through the heart-wrenching moments. Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar’s cousin and NCP-SCP leader, stood by Sunetra Pawar throughout the ceremony, offering support and solace.

The event marked not just a final farewell to a towering political figure but also a moment of collective grief for Maharashtra. Baramati, Pawar’s political bastion, came to a virtual standstill as thousands thronged the streets to honour a leader whose life and work left an indelible impact on the state’s political and social landscape.

Ajit Pawar’s contributions over his four-decade-long career spanned regional development, infrastructure projects, and welfare initiatives that benefited communities across Pune district and beyond. His untimely demise in the plane crash has left a void in Maharashtra politics and among the people who regarded him as both a leader and a guardian of the region.

The funeral procession and subsequent cremation stand as a testament to Pawar’s enduring legacy, with mourners and political leaders alike paying tribute to a life devoted to public service.