Maharashtra Bids Farewell to Ajit Pawar: Last Rites Underway in Baramati

January 29, 2026 — A somber atmosphere has engulfed the town of Baramati as Maharashtra prepares to bid a final farewell to its Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief, Ajit Pawar. Following his tragic demise in a plane crash on Wednesday morning, his mortal remains have been moved to the Vidya Pratishthan ground for public viewing and last rites.

The Final Journey Begins

Early Thursday morning, the mortal remains of the 66-year-old leader were taken from his residence in Katewadi to the Vidya Pratishthan campus. Thousands of grieving supporters, party workers, and local residents lined the streets, chanting “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” as the flower-bedecked funeral procession, or Antyayatra, made its way through the heart of his political stronghold.

The state government has accorded him a funeral with full state honours. A three-day period of state mourning is currently in effect, with the national flag flying at half-mast across all government buildings in Maharashtra.

High-Profile Presence

The funeral, scheduled for 11:00 AM, is expected to see a massive gathering of India’s top political leadership.

• National Leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are slated to attend.
• State Leadership: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar are already present to pay their respects.
• Other Dignitaries: Leaders across the spectrum, including Nitin Gadkari, Raj Thackeray, and Supriya Sule, have arrived in Baramati to support the Pawar family in this hour of grief.

Details of the Tragic Incident

The tragedy occurred on Wednesday, January 28, when a Learjet 45 chartered aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport. The flight had taken off from Mumbai at 8:10 AM and went down at approximately 8:45 AM amid reports of poor visibility.

“The aircraft appeared to struggle during its final descent, circling once before banking sharply and spiraling down,” an eyewitness reported.

Tragically, all five individuals on board perished in the accident:

1. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister
2. Captain Sumit Kapoor, Pilot
3. Captain Shambhavi Pathak, Co-pilot
4. Vidip Jadhav, Personal Security Officer
5. Pinky Mali, Flight Attendant

A Legacy Cut Short

Ajit Pawar was a titan of Maharashtra politics, serving as Deputy Chief Minister for a record six non-consecutive terms. Known for his administrative grit and “man of action” persona, he was instrumental in the infrastructure development of the Pune-Baramati region. His sudden passing leaves a significant void in the state’s political landscape, especially ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash to determine the exact technical or environmental cause of the disaster.