Ajit Pawar, a key figure in Maharashtra politics, dies in plane crash
Maharashtra's deputy chief minister was 66 when the plane crashed after taking off from Mumbai. Everybody on board, Pawar’s staff and the crew, perished. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The nephew of Sharad Pawar and a key figure in the Nationalist Congress Party's split, Ajit Pawar led his party in an alliance with Narendra Modi's BJP. Condolences are being expressed by political leaders. The Catholic Church also expressed its closeness to the family and the people of Maharashtra.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – This morning, Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister of the western state of Maharashtra and one of the most influential figures in state politics, died in a plane crash at the age of 66, along with four other people.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the small plane carrying Pawar, which took off from Mumbai, made an emergency landing at Baramati Airport, the flight's destination. The cause of the crash, which occurred at 8:45 am (local time), has not yet been officially confirmed.
Aboard the aircraft, a VT SSK, were Ajit Pawar, two members of his staff (an aide and a security officer), and two crew members. Images from the crash site show the wreckage engulfed in smoke and flames.
“Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra,” reads a message posted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X. “My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.”
In a separate post, the prime minister paid tribute to Pawar, the political leader.
Ajit Pawar was the nephew of Sharad Pawar, a veteran politician and founder of the Pawar political dynasty. In 1999, he founded the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), after splitting from the Indian National Congress, which is now in the opposition.
During his political career, Ajit Pawar served as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra six times, a record in the state's political history.
In 2023, he broke with his uncle, taking a group of MLAs with him, causing a rift in the NCP that has divided the electorate in Maharashtra.
The faction led by Ajit Pawar later allied itself with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), joining the state coalition government.
After a lengthy legal battle, in 2024, the Election Commission of India recognised his group as the real NCP, assigning it its name and symbol (a clock), a decision that has had a significant impact on the local political landscape.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra and their two sons, Parth and Jay. His son Parth contested the 2019 parliamentary elections in the Maval constituency under the NCP banner, but was defeated by Shrirang Barne, who ran with Shiv Sena, a right-wing party with strong roots in Maharashtra.
Sunetra Pawar is considered a leading political strategist. In the last election to the lower house, Lok Sabha (House of the People), she lost in Baramati to Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP–SP), the old faction in the party that did not break away. However, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha (Council of State), the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Several Church leaders issued messages of condolence upon hearing the news.
“We are shocked and saddened by the tragic and untimely death of Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Ajit Pawar,” said Archbishop Elias Gonsalves of Nagpur speaking to AsiaNews. “We pray for the bereaved members of his family and his larger political party, who have lost a dedicated leader".
In a statement released by the press office of the Archdiocese of Bombay, Archbishop John Rodrigues writes: “the news of his untimely death in the aircraft crash at Baramati on January 28, 2026, has left the whole of Maharashtra in deep grief and shock.”
For the prelate, “Mr. Ajit Pawar was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to the welfare of Maharashtra and its people touched countless lives. His leadership, vision, and tireless efforts in fostering development and unity will be remembered with great respect and admiration.”
Lastly, the message notes, “In this moment of immense loss, we offer our prayers for Mr. Ajit Pawar. May the Almighty grant strength, solace, and peace to his beloved family as well as his friends, colleagues, and all those mourning this irreplaceable loss.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Maharashtra during this difficult time.”
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