PM Modi Mourns Ajit Pawar, Calls Him a Leader of the People

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, paying tribute to him as “a leader of the people” with an exceptional grassroots connect. Pawar died in a chartered aircraft crash near Baramati in Pune district, triggering widespread mourning across Maharashtra and the country.

In a message shared on social media, Prime Minister Modi described Pawar as a widely respected public figure known for his tireless work ethic and commitment to serving the people of Maharashtra. He highlighted Pawar’s deep understanding of administration and his passion for empowering marginalised sections of society, calling his untimely demise “very shocking and saddening”.

The crash occurred on Wednesday morning when the chartered aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar attempted to land in the Baramati area. Initial reports confirmed that there were no survivors. Along with Pawar, five other occupants onboard the aircraft also lost their lives in the accident. Emergency services and senior officials rushed to the site shortly after the incident, and rescue as well as investigation operations were immediately launched.

Following the tragedy, Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to assess the situation and receive updates on relief and investigation efforts. The state government said all necessary measures were being taken to determine the cause of the crash and to support the families of those who lost their lives.

Amit Shah described Pawar’s death as a personal loss, stating that the senior leader had dedicated more than three decades of his life to public service. He said Pawar’s contribution to Maharashtra’s political and social landscape was immeasurable and added that the entire NDA family stood with his loved ones in this hour of grief.

Condolences also poured in from leaders across the political spectrum. Several chief ministers and senior opposition figures expressed shock over the tragedy, describing Pawar’s death as a major loss to public life. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the incident deeply distressing and stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the crash. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also conveyed their condolences.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari described Pawar as a close friend and said his passing was a huge blow to the political fraternity.

Ajit Pawar was one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders, with Baramati remaining his political stronghold for decades. His sudden death has led to an outpouring of grief from party workers, supporters, and citizens across the state, as investigations into the cause of the aircraft crash continue.