"Ajit Dada amar rahe": Sea of mourners gather in Baramati for late Deputy CM’s funeral

The mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were consigned to the flames on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in his home turf of Baramati. The 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief was cremated with full state honours following his tragic death in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. His sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, lit the funeral pyre amid a somber atmosphere, while a police contingent presented a salute and accorded a guard of honour to the departed leader.

The sudden demise of the "Baramati Strongman" has left a significant power vacuum in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Known for his administrative grit and grassroots connect, Pawar was a pivotal figure in the state's cooperative sector and infrastructure development. As the funeral pyre was lit at approximately 11:00 AM, the state bid goodbye to a leader whose career spanned over four decades, leaving behind his wife Sunetra and two sons to carry forward his legacy. The funeral procession, which began from the Vidya Pratishthan campus, saw a massive outpouring of grief as thousands of supporters lined the streets to catch a final glimpse of their leader. Draped in the national flag, his remains were brought from his village, Katewadi, to the cremation site as chants of "Ajit Dada amar rahe" echoed through the air. The Maharashtra government had previously announced a three-day state mourning and a public holiday to mark the passing of the veteran politician who served as Deputy CM six times.

A galaxy of political leaders across party lines arrived in Baramati to pay their final respects. Prominent attendees included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who was seen alongside his daughter Supriya Sule. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Goa CM Pramod Sawant also placed floral wreaths. The presence of both factions of the NCP highlighted the gravity of the loss, momentarily bridging the political divide that had defined the state’s recent history.

The tragedy occurred when a chartered Learjet 45, carrying Pawar and four others, crashed just 200 metres from the Baramati airstrip during an attempted emergency landing. The crash also claimed the lives of his personal security officer, an assistant, and two experienced pilots. Investigators have since recovered the black box from the wreckage, and the Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) as the Ministry of Civil Aviation initiates a high-level inquiry into the technical failure.