Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar cremated with full state honors
What's the story
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honors on Thursday. Pawar, along with four others, died after their plane crashed while trying to land on Wednesday morning. His mortal remains were brought to Vidya Pratishtan College ground for public homage on Wednesday evening, where thousands gathered to pay their last respects.
Crowd
'Dada was the future of Maharashtra'
According to Mid-Day, many supporters said Pawar's sudden death left them feeling orphaned. The highways leading to Baramati saw significant traffic as supporters drove there from Pune and Ahilya Nagar. "I can't believe how god took away my dada...We are orphans now. Dada was the future of Maharashtra," a 70-year-old supporter from Katewadi village said. Chants of "Ajit dada amar rahe" and "Ajit dada parat ya" were also heard when his mortal remains were brought to the Vidya Pratishtan campus.
Twitter Post
Sons Parth and Jay light the funeral pyre
#WATCH | Baramati | Parth and Jay, sons of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, light the funeral pyre as they perform the last rites of their father pic.twitter.com/RJpiVGtCu7
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2026
Funeral details
Last rites to be performed at Vidya Pratishtan ground
A sea of supporters, actors, and political leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, state CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde, attended the funeral service. The Maharashtra government has already declared a three-day state mourning period during which flags will fly at half-mast on all government buildings across the state.
Political impact
Pawar's death leaves void in Maharashtra politics
Pawar's death has left a major void in the BJP-led ruling coalition and raised questions about the future of the NCP. He was deputy chief minister for six terms in the Cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis. His NCP faction, which was given the official party tag and symbol after he broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar's founded party, is affiliated with Maharashtra's current Fadnavis government.
Crash probe
Aircraft crash investigation underway
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched an investigation into the crash that killed Pawar and four others. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the probe. The Learjet 45 aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, was cleared to land on Runway 11 at 8:43am but crashed just a minute later.