As 72 Rajya Sabha seats fall vacant in 2026, Congress finds itself in a precarious situation in Maharashtra. The party is engaged in intense negotiations within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance to secure the state's lone Rajya Sabha seat. This move has been dubbed a “mathematical necessity” to protect the party's national standing in the Upper House, with the party facing a crucial test of numbers. Congress currently holds 27 Rajya Sabha seats, but the imminent retirements o

In a historic move for Maharashtra politics, Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, was unanimously elected as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The decision came at the party's national executive meeting, held on Thursday, where senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and formally proposed her name. The proposal was met with overwhelming support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention, officially marking Sunetra Paw

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday, as thousands of supporters, political leaders and family members gathered to bid him an emotional farewell. The town witnessed scenes of deep grief as Pawar’s mortal remains, draped in the national flag, were brought from his native village Katewadi to Baramati for the final rites. The atmosphere remained solemn as people from nearby villages and NCP workers lined the streets to pay their respects to the veteran leader fondly known as Dada. Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre amid chants of emotional slogans from supporters who struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss. Senior leaders from across party lines attended the funeral, underlining Pawar’s influence in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid his last respects, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were also present. Police personnel and state officials accorded ceremonial honours as part of the official proceedings. Ajit Pawar, aged 66, died on Wednesday morning in a tragic plane crash involving a chartered Learjet near the Baramati airstrip, around 100 kilometres from Pune. The aircraft reportedly crashed shortly after approach, killing all those on board. The sudden nature of the accident sent shockwaves across the state and triggered an outpouring of grief from supporters and political colleagues alike. Large crowds gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground in Baramati, chanting slogans expressing their disbelief and sorrow over the untimely demise of a leader who played a crucial role in Maharashtra politics for decades. Several prominent figures, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, actor Riteish Deshmukh and other dignitaries, visited Pawar’s residence in Katewadi to offer condolences to the family. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and their sons. The loss has left a significant void within the NCP, with party workers and leaders expressing concern over the future direction of the party in the absence of its chief. The fatal crash also claimed the lives of experienced pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, Ajit Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali. Authorities have registered an accidental death report in connection with the incident, and further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. As Maharashtra mourns the passing of Ajit Pawar, tributes continue to pour in, highlighting his political legacy, administrative experience and deep connection with the people of Baramati and beyond.

The Pawar family occupies a unique and dominant position in Maharashtra’s political history. For over five decades, the family has shaped regional politics through electoral victories, control over cooperative institutions, and sustained influence in policy-making. Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and a multiple-term Deputy Chief Minister, was a central pillar of this legacy. His untimely death in a tragic plane crash on January 28, 2026, has brought renewed pub

The sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a tragic air crash has sent shockwaves across the state’s political landscape, leaving the Nationalist Congress Party facing deep uncertainty. As leaders, cadres, and voters struggle to come to terms with the loss, attention has swiftly shifted to a name that until recently stayed away from daily political combat: Sunetra Pawar. A Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and Ajit Pawar’s wife, she is now being widely discussed as

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 Maharash

Maharashtra was plunged into deep shock on Tuesday after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation confirmed that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was dead in a plane crash during landing at Baramati airport. The charter aircraft, which was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati, met with a fatal accident at around 8:45 am while attempting to land. DGCA officials confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash and that five people were on board the aircraft, including Ajit Pawar, three passeng

A major incident shocked Maharashtra on Tuesday after reports emerged that a plane carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed while landing in Baramati. According to early inputs shared through live updates, the aircraft encountered difficulties during the landing process, leading to a crash that immediately triggered emergency protocols at the site. First visuals from the location began circulating online, showing heightened security presence and rescue teams rushing to the scene. Aut

The Mahayuti alliance recorded a sweeping victory in the Maharashtra local body elections, winning 207 municipal president posts across the state and establishing strong control over urban local governance. Results from the State Election Commission showed the Bharatiya Janata Party leading the tally with 117 seats, making it the single-largest party in the polls. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena followed with 53 posts, while the Nationalist Congress Party secured 37, giving the ruling allianc

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has named Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025, due to health issues. The announcement was made by BJP president JP Nadda after a key meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. If elected, Radhakrishnan w

Summary The BJP has nominated Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as the NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation due to health reasons. Radhakrishnan, born in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, is a two-time MP and for

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar has backed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations of vote theft during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, adding his own sensational claim about Maharashtra’s assembly polls. Pawar alleged that two individuals approached him ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra elections, guaranteeing victory in 160 out of 288 seats. He said he and Rahul Gandhi declined the offer, choosing not to b

In a significant development ahead of the Vice Presidential election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda are expected to finalize the NDA's nominee by August 12, 2025. This comes after the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health reasons, which has left the position vacant on the very first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. A crucial meet

A viral video showing Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad physically assaulting a canteen staff member has sparked outrage and heated discussions in the Maharashtra Council. The incident, which took place at the MLA canteen in Mumbai, saw the Buldhana MLA slapping and punching the canteen staffer, Yogesh Kutram, reportedly over complaints about the quality of the food served. The video quickly spread across social media, leading to widespread condemnation.

A shocking incident of assault by Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has come to light after he physically attacked a canteen staff member over the quality of dal served at the Akashvani MLA canteen in Mumbai. The incident, which occurred during peak hours, has sparked widespread condemnation, raising questions about the behavior of elected representatives in public spaces. The altercation began when Gaikwad, a

In a dramatic twist, a Shiv Sena minister tried to join the opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protest in Thane amidst a brewing language debate in the state. The protest, organized by MNS leader Raj Thackeray, was met with chaos as MNS workers were detained by the police. The protest centered around the controversial 'slapgate' incident, in which MNS workers assaulted a food stall owner for speaking Hindi instead of Marathi.

At a high-voltage rally in Mumbai on Saturday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray shared a public stage for the first time in nearly two decades. The powerful political reunion was triggered by the widespread backlash over the Maharashtra government's controversial decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools. Addressing a p

Violence broke out in Nagpur on Monday following rumours of the desecration of a holy book during a demonstration led by right-wing groups. The protest, held by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal workers, demanded the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb. The situation escalated quickly, resulting in arson, vandalism, and clashes between two communities. Several vehicles were torched, and police had to resort to firing tear gas shells and using batons to restore order. Th

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) following controversial remarks by its Maharashtra leader Abu Azmi, who praised Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. In a heated debate in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, Adityanath accused SP of supporting a historical figure known for persecuting India's faith and culture. Calling for Azmi’s immediate expulsion, he challenged SP’s silence on the matter and demanded that the part

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday following the results of the assembly elections. Despite a significant victory for the Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, the decision on who will succeed Shinde as the new CM remains uncertain. Accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Shinde visited the Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation