Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Cremated with Full State Honours in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratisthan ground in Baramati.

Thousands of mourners, including family members, party workers, and supporters, gathered to bid an emotional farewell to the senior leader, who died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday.

Several prominent leaders attended the funeral, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. NCP chief Sharad Pawar was also present to pay his last respects to his nephew.

Emotional Farewell by Family and Supporters

Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Parth and Jay were present during the last rites, with his sons performing the cremation rituals. As Pawar’s mortal remains were brought to the funeral ground, supporters raised emotional slogans such as “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” and “Ajit Dada Parat Ya” (Ajit Dada, please come back).

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people thronged Pawar’s residence at Katewadi village near Baramati to pay their final respects. Residents from Katewadi and nearby villages, along with NCP workers from across Pune district, gathered outside the house, remembering Pawar as a leader who played a crucial role in the region’s development. Many mourners said leaders like him are born “once in a lifetime.”

Antim Yatra Through Baramati

Ajit Pawar’s mortal remains were taken out for his Antim Yatra in a flower-decorated rath bearing his photograph and the message “Swargiya Ajitdada Pawar amar rahein” (Long live Ajit Dada Pawar).

The funeral procession began at 9 am from the Vidya Pratisthan campus (Gadima), passed through various parts of Baramati to allow the public to pay homage, and concluded at the Vidya Pratisthan ground, where the cremation was held at 11 am. Large crowds had also gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Hospital earlier, where the mortal remains were kept.

Security arrangements were intensified at the funeral venue, with personnel from the police and CRPF deployed to manage the massive turnout.

Plane Crash Investigation Underway

Ajit Pawar (66) died on Wednesday morning when a chartered Learjet crashed near the Baramati airstrip, around 100 kilometres from Pune, while he was travelling to attend a public rally for Zilla Parishad elections. The crash claimed the lives of all five people on board, including two pilots, a flight attendant, and Pawar’s personal security officer.

Postmortem examinations of pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinky Mali were conducted at the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati, after which their bodies were handed over to their families for last rites.

Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station, and further investigation is underway.

In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a detailed probe into the crash. Teams from AAIB and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached the site on January 28, and the aircraft’s black box has been recovered. The ministry said the investigation is being conducted in a transparent and time-bound manner in accordance with established procedures.

A Lasting Political Legacy

Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar had a long and influential political career. Known for his grassroots connect and administrative acumen, he served multiple terms as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and played a key role in the state’s cooperative sector, overseeing several milk unions and sugar factories.

As Baramati mourns one of its most influential leaders, tributes continue to pour in from across Maharashtra, marking the end of an era in the state’s politics.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar to Be Laid to Rest with State Honours on Jan 29