Ajit Pawar’s last rites held with full state honours
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The final rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, were performed with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati. His sons, Parth and Jay, carried out the last rites by lighting the funeral pyre.
Several senior political leaders attended the funeral ceremony of the Nationalist Congress Party leader, which was held at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds in Baramati. Among those present were Union ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, former Union minister Sharad Pawar, and BJP president Nitin Nabin.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were also in attendance, along with Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra. His cousin, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, and NCP working president and former Union minister Praful Patel were among other prominent leaders who paid their respects, TNIE reported.
Earlier in the day, a large number of people gathered at the Pawar family residence to offer their last respects to the senior NCP leader. Party workers and local residents assembled in large numbers, raising slogans in his remembrance.
“A leader like him will not be born again,” said several mourners, lauding his contributions to the region’s development.
Supporters were heard raising slogans praising Ajit Pawar with chants resonating across Baramati, his long-time political bastion.
At the Pawar residence, family members — including his wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, sons Parth and Jay, and younger brother Shrinivas Pawar — received mourners who paid their respects with folded hands.
After the final viewing at his home, Pawar’s mortal remains were taken to the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground in Baramati, where his last rites are to be conducted with full state honours.
Pawar, aged 66, and four others lost their lives on Wednesday morning when a chartered Learjet crashed near the tabletop runway at Baramati airport, just about 200 metres from its boundary. The aircraft, which had departed from Mumbai, was attempting a second landing when the accident took place.
The unexpected death of the senior leader has sent ripples through Maharashtra’s political circles, creating uncertainty within the BJP-led ruling alliance and raising questions about the future course of the NCP under his leadership.
Officials said Pawar’s body was identified at the crash site through his wristwatch. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the identification was made based on the watch, and a video circulating on social media appeared to show the wristwatch on a charred body at the scene.
Those who died in the crash included Captain Sumit Kapoor, who reportedly had over 15,000 hours of flying experience; co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, with around 1,500 hours; personal security officer Vidip Jadhav; and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The funeral procession is scheduled to begin at 9 am on Thursday, with cremation planned for 11 am at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds, where full state honours will be accorded.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, senior political leaders from across party lines, and thousands of people from different parts of Maharashtra are expected to attend the funeral.