Shock, Silence, and a Political Vacuum in Maharashtra: An NDA Ally, Deputy Chief Minister, and NCP Chief Ajit Dada Pawar Dies in a Plane Crash

Today morning, Maharashtra wakes up not to headlines, but to Shock, disbelief and grief.

The name that Maharashtra has spoken for over four decades—with familiarity, disagreement, admiration, and dependence: Ajit Dada Pawar is no more.

The fiery, outspoken, intelligent, visionary and a people’s leader sixty-six year-old Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, NDA ally and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-AP faction) leader Ajit Dada Pawar was among five people killed on Wednesday 28th January 2026 morning when their Bombardier Learjet-the aircraft, a business jet crashed while landing around 8:45 a.m. at Baramati airport section amid poor visibility. The Dada was flying from Mumbai to attend Zilla Parishad election events at Baramati, district Pune.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that all five people on board the plane have been killed. According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. and it disappeared from radar around 8:45 am. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at 8:50 a.m., a police official said in a statement.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will launch a probe into the fatal Baramati plane crash. The AAIB team will soon visit the crash site.

Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in the crash, today.

The news of the plane crash is going to be altered the course of the state’s politics, and of a name that has been inseparable from Maharashtra’s power structure for over four decades: Ajit Dada Anantrao Pawar. The atmosphere that now grips Maharashtra—a mix of shock and question.

For Ajit Dada Pawar was not merely another office-holder. He was an institution of work, authority, and relentless governance.

Remain As A Memory – Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde with Maharashtra Dy CM Late Ajit Dada Pawar

Born on 22 July 1959, an eight-term MLA from Baramati Assembly Constituency, a former MP, a six-time Deputy Chief Minister, and a finance minister trusted even in unstable coalitions, Ajit Dada Anantrao Pawar was known less for oratory and more for outcomes.

A 21 Yr old would’ve been embarrassed looking at his energy at 66 Yrs. used to get up at 5 am. Used to start his official work at 6 am. Day never used to end up before late midnight. But never a sign of tiredness on his face. A true grassroot leader.

Much of who Ajit Dada Pawar became cannot be spoken of without mentioning Sharad Pawar, his uncle, mentor, and towering presence in Indian politics. Sharad Pawar did not merely introduce him to public life; he shaped his instincts. From him, Ajit Pawar learned the grammar of power in Maharashtra—how rural cooperatives breathe, how sugar belts decide elections, how irrigation is not just water but politics, livelihoods, and dignity.

Yet, over time, Ajit Pawar stepped out of that shadow, forging an identity that was unmistakably his own: decisive, impatient with indecision, fiercely administrative.

He spoke bluntly, often impatiently but with honesty, sometimes controversially. But few questioned his grasp of governance or his ability to move the system. Minister of several departments (Finance and Planning, Energy, Water Resources, Rural Development, Water Supply and Sanitation, Irrigation, etc.)- his imprint was everywhere.

As the Finance Minister, Ajit Dada never let the economic clock of the state slip. He made financial provisions for many development projects in the state. Lakhs of people in Maharashtra along with the workers of Nationalist Congress party have a feeling of being defeated and leaderless today.

The kingdom has suffered immense losses due to the demise of Ajit Dada as He was, to many, the embodiment of relentless work.

The Baramati plane crash did not claim only Ajit Dada’s life. Besides Ajit Dada, the mentioned individuals also died in this tragic accident: Sumeet Kapoor: Pilot, Sambhavi Pathak: Co-pilot, Videep Jadhav: PSO. Pinky Mali: Crew Member

MP Supriya Sule cousin, Ajit Dada Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and son Parth Pawar reached Baramati following the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar. Visibly overcome with grief at the airport, Supriya Sule broke down and said, ‘Sabka ladla chala gaya’, remembering her cousin and ‘Dada’, as family members and supporters gathered to mourn the loss.

The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, killed in a plane crash, will be held with full state honours on Thursday (January 29, 2026) in Baramati, Pune district.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and many leaders from various opposition parties are expected to attend the last rites, which will be held at Vidya Pratishthan ground, Baramati at 11 a.m. with full state honours to acknowledge Ajit Dada whose working relationship with power was respected even by opponents.

The Condolence from some leaders

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Dada Pawar With PM Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde And Others.

PM Narendra Modi wrote on X- Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote on X- Dada is no more!
My dear friend and colleague, a mass leader with a strong people’s connect, Deputy Chief Minister Ajitdada Pawar lost his life in a plane accident. This is an extremely shocking, heart wrenching news. I’m numb. I do not have any words to express these devastating emotions.
I have lost my brave friend with a huge heart.
This is a tragic and personal loss for me. And it is irreparable loss! I pay my deep, humble, heartfelt respects to dear Dada. My deepest condolences to his entire family and NCP family. We stand together with them in sorrow and tough times. 4 more people lost lives in this accident. My condolences to their families too. We are with them. I’ve cancelled all my scheduled programs and will go to Baramati.

Aum Shanti

Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde wrote on X-
” My elder brother went. Ajit Pawar’s death has brought down a mountain of grief in Maharashtra. The entire Maharashtra has suffered huge losses. Such a thought did not occur in any dream. Ajit Dada was a man of his word. We worked as a team when I was the CM, and he was Dy CM. As team we had started the Ladli Behen Yojana, and Ajit dada played an important role in it..”

Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan wrote on X-
Deeply shocked by the tragic news of the passing of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, President of NCP and an NDA alliance leader, Sri Ajit Dada Pawar ji, in a devastating plane crash today. His dedicated public service and immense contributions towards the welfare and development of the people of Maharashtra will always be remembered, and his enduring commitment to the people will continue to be held with respect.
I express my profound condolences on his passing and extend my deepest sympathies to his family members, admirers, and party cadre during this moment of immense grief.

The Succession

The question of succession has also begun to surface, quietly but inevitably. Will the mantle fall to wife Sunetra Tai Pawar, whose recent political foray brought her into public view beyond Baramati? Or to son Parth Pawar, whose name carries legacy but whose political journey remains unfinished? Or will seasoned leaders like Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, or Sunil Tatkare attempt to consolidate control?

In moments like these, parties fracture or find new centres or merge—future offers surprise outcomes to consolidate NCP-AP faction.

About the trending Assassination Conspiracy Through Plane Crash

Today, after Ajit Dada’s death due to a plane crash, reacting to W. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s reaction, NCP Supremo and former Maharashtra CM Sharad Pawar released a statement saying, “The accidental death of Ajit Pawar is a tremendous shock to Maharashtra. Today, Maharashtra has lost a capable and decisive leader. The loss is irreparable, but some things are simply beyond our control. I wasn’t planning to speak to the media today, but I learned that some media outlets were suggesting from Kolkata that there was some political angle behind this accident. But there is no politics involved; this is purely an accident. The pain of this death is felt by Maharashtra and all of us. Please do not bring politics into this. That’s all I wanted to say.”

This statement by Pawar Senior put an end to the political controversy being created by vested political leaders and parties.