West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has politicized the tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. The crash, which occurred in Baramati, Maharashtra, on Wednesday morning, claimed the lives of Pawar and four others.

Banerjee expressed her shock and grief over Pawar's sudden demise, conveying condolences to his family and followers. However, she also emphasized the need for a "proper investigation" into the crash. In a post on X, Banerjee stated, "Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss...The incident needs proper investigation". She further called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the incident, raising concerns about the safety of political leaders and hinting at potential foul play. "We need a proper investigation into Ajit Pawar's death, to be supervised by the Supreme Court," Banerjee asserted. "He was closely associated with the ruling political party. Someone from another party had even claimed that Ajit Pawar would leave the BJP," she added.

The incident occurred when the aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and eyewitnesses, the plane appeared unstable during its descent, drifted off the runway during touchdown, and exploded upon impact. The flight had departed from Mumbai around 8:10 am, with Pawar en route to Baramati to attend public meetings for the Zilla Parishad elections.

The demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe has added a layer of political tension to the tragedy. BJP MP Kangana Ranaut criticized Mamata Banerjee for suggesting foul play, describing her words as "neech baatein". Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed that "Dada has left us!". Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat expressed deep shock and grief over the sudden demise of Pawar, saying the loss is hard to believe as Pawar had attended a cabinet meeting just a day earlier.

The DGCA has initiated an investigation into the crash, with authorities collecting data from the flight recorder, radar, CCTV footage, and air traffic control recordings. A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board has also been dispatched to the crash site to begin their investigation.

The Maharashtra government has announced a three-day state mourning period. Tributes have poured in from leaders across the political spectrum, with many expressing shock and sadness over Pawar's untimely demise.