Maharashtra in shock: Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash — funeral sees emotional gathering of political heavyweights

Thousands of supporters gathered at Baramati’s Vidya Pratishthan ground, where the funeral, which began at 9 am, was attended by Pawar’s immediate family — wife Sunetra and sons Parth and Jay — alongside his uncle and former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar.

Pawar’s cousin, MP Supriya Sule, was also present. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other political leaders paid their respects.

Ajit Pawar, 66, who led his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati for a political campaign.

A six-time legislator from Baramati, he was considered the principal mass leader of the Pawar family after Sharad Pawar and held multiple terms as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, overseeing key portfolios including Finance.

In 2023, Pawar led a split in the NCP and joined the BJP–Shiv Sena-led government under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a move that reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Known for his blunt style and strong grassroots influence in western Maharashtra, Pawar remained central to state politics until his death.

His passing leaves a significant vacuum in Maharashtra politics, with potential ramifications for the ruling Mahayuti alliance and discussions on a possible reunion with the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP.