Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after a chartered aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport. He was 66. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of two pilots and two security personnel who were on board the aircraft. Authorities described the crash as extremely severe, with most parts of the plane engulfed in flames after impact. The incident has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and the country, abruptly ending the life and career of one of the state’s most influential political leaders.
Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar grew up in a family deeply connected to public life and politics. After losing his father at the age of 18, he followed his uncle Sharad Pawar into the political arena. His early political grounding came through the cooperative movement, which has long played a decisive role in western Maharashtra. Pawar began his public career in 1982 when he was elected to the board of a sugar cooperative, marking the first step in what would become a decades-long journey through Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Ajit Pawar’s rise was steady and rooted in grassroots influence. In 1991, he became chairman of the Pune District Cooperative Bank, a powerful position he held for 16 years. That same year, he entered electoral politics by winning the Lok Sabha seat from Baramati. He later transitioned to state politics, winning the Baramati Assembly constituency, which he would go on to represent continuously for more than three decades. His repeated victories, including an eighth win in 2024 with a massive margin, established him as the undisputed strongman of Baramati and surrounding regions.
Over the years, Ajit Pawar became known for his administrative control, sharp political instincts, and ability to navigate complex coalition politics. He handled several key portfolios, including finance, irrigation, water resources, and rural development, and played a central role in shaping Maharashtra’s budgetary and policy decisions. He served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in that position. His political journey was marked by dramatic moments, including the brief 2019 government formed with Devendra Fadnavis and the 2023 split of the Nationalist Congress Party, which redefined power equations in the state.
Despite controversies, shifting alliances, and political upheavals, Ajit Pawar retained a strong connection with his constituents and remained active in public life until his final day. Known for his fast-paced working style and regular engagement with party workers and citizens, he continued to be a dominant force in Maharashtra politics. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife and two children. His death leaves a significant vacuum in the state’s political landscape and is expected to have far-reaching implications for party dynamics, leadership structures, and the future course of Maharashtra politics.
