In a shocking turn of events, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, has died in a plane crash near Baramati, Pune district. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when a Learjet 45 aircraft, registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Aviation, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport around 8:45 am. All five people on board, including Ajit Pawar, two crew members, a personal security officer, and an attendant, were killed.
Eyewitnesses reported that the plane appeared unstable and exploded multiple times upon crashing. According to Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware, the aircraft went off the side of the runway and exploded on crashing. The aircraft was attempting to make a second approach to the airport after aborting the initial landing attempt.
The news of Ajit Pawar's death has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and the nation, with condolences pouring in from political leaders across party lines. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her grief, acknowledging Pawar's contributions to Maharashtra's development, particularly in the cooperative sector, and called his untimely demise an irreparable loss. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended their condolences. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his sadness and personal loss, declaring a three-day mourning period in the state.
Ajit Pawar's death occurs amidst a politically sensitive time in Maharashtra, with recent speculation about a potential reconciliation between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by him and his uncle, Sharad Pawar. The two factions had split, leading to a prolonged legal battle for control of the party, which the Election Commission ultimately granted to Ajit Pawar's faction, along with the original party name and symbol. Sharad Pawar's faction was subsequently rebranded as NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Despite the division, there had been increasing signs of a thaw in relations between the two Pawar factions. They had formed an alliance for recent municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and announced a tie-up for upcoming civic body polls. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had recently expressed hope that Ajit Pawar would merge his faction back into the NCP (Sharad Pawar). Ajit Pawar himself had acknowledged that the bitterness between the two factions had diminished. Just days before his death, Ajit Pawar stated that there are no permanent enemies in politics, further fueling speculation about a potential reunion.
Ajit Pawar's political career spanned several decades, during which he served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a record six terms under various governments. He was known for his strong leadership and influence in the state's politics. His sudden death now raises questions about the future of the NCP and its potential reunion, as well as the stability of the current state government. Focus is now shifted towards Pawar family tree and potential succession by his sons Parth and Jay.
