Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Veteran Deputy CM, Dies in Plane Crash

Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a pivotal figure in the state’s politics—especially following his split from uncle Sharad Pawar’s faction in June 2023—tragically died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. The 66-year-old was aboard a private aircraft traveling from Mumbai to Baramati, the family’s political stronghold, when it crashed while attempting to land about an hour into the flight.

He is survived by his wife Sunetra, a Rajya Sabha MP, and their two sons, Parth and Jay.

Baramati, now a flourishing sugarcane belt, served as the foundation of Ajit Pawar’s political journey spanning over three decades. It was here that the young Pawar, initially operating in the shadow of his influential uncle, learned the intricacies of politics and power, eventually emerging as a decisive and hard-nosed leader who would leave a lasting imprint on Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Ironically, it was in Baramati that his remarkable journey came to a tragic end.

Pawar’s political career was marked by dramatic twists. In November 2019, he briefly broke away to form a surprise government with the BJP, which lasted only 80 hours—a moment that revealed the first public rift within the NCP family.

The split became permanent in July 2023, when Ajit Pawar led a group of MLAs to join the BJP-led government once again, assuming the role of Deputy Chief Minister. This decisive move effectively divided the NCP in two.

Months later, the Election Commission recognized Ajit Pawar’s faction, granting them the party name and symbol, leaving Sharad Pawar’s loyalists to rebuild under a new banner.

Ajit Pawar’s journey was more than just that of a powerful state leader.

It reflected the evolving landscape of Indian politics—where alliances shift, families divide, and survival often hinges on reinvention. In both life and legacy, Ajit Pawar remained a relentless player, never stepping out of the game.