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Plane crash kills Maharashtra deputy chief minister
Ajit Pawar, a prominent Indian politician and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, died on Wednesday when his chartered aircraft crashed during landing at Baramati airport. Four others on board also perished in the accident.
Poor visibility cited as possible cause
India's civil aviation minister reported that visibility was low at Baramati airport at the time of the crash. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an inquiry into the incident.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Learjet 45, was cleared for landing after multiple attempts but failed to respond to air traffic control. Moments later, it burst into flames near the runway, according to a statement from the aviation ministry.
Nation mourns influential leader
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and grief over Pawar's death, calling it a loss for Maharashtra. He praised Pawar's decades-long service to the state.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared three days of state mourning, describing Pawar's passing as an "immeasurable loss."
"Without Dada, Maharashtra's political landscape is incomplete. He had an open-hearted personality, and every party worker admired him."
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute to Pawar, who was affectionately known as 'Dada' (elder brother) in Marathi.
Political career marked by alliances and controversy
Pawar, 66, was a key figure in Maharashtra politics for over three decades. A founding member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), he served multiple terms as deputy chief minister and held portfolios including agriculture and finance.
His political journey was defined by shifting alliances. In 2019, he briefly left the NCP to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government but returned within days. In 2023, he split from the NCP again, taking a large group of legislators with him, leading to the collapse of the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena coalition. The Election Commission later recognized his faction as the official NCP.
Pawar was known for his sharp political instincts and oratory skills but faced corruption allegations throughout his career, which he consistently denied.
Impact on Maharashtra's political future
Pawar's death leaves a significant void in the NCP and the state's ruling coalition. While the BJP-led government retains a majority, any further defections could destabilize the political landscape.
Pawar was reportedly traveling to Baramati, his constituency, to campaign for upcoming local elections when the crash occurred. His funeral is scheduled for Thursday morning.
