In a devastating aviation tragedy, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been killed alongside four others after a private aircraft crashed during an emergency landing attempt in western India on Wednesday morning.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The fatal incident occurred around 9am local time in Baramati, a town in Maharashtra state, approximately one hour after the Learjet 45 aircraft took off from Mumbai, the state capital. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, confirmed that all five people aboard perished in the crash.
The victims included Deputy CM Pawar, two pilots, and two other passengers, one of whom was identified as his personal security officer. Television footage from the scene showed the aircraft's wreckage scattered across the crash site, with sections of the plane engulfed in flames as emergency services and police established a cordon around the area.
Emergency Landing Attempt
Aviation authorities reported that the aircraft lost control while attempting an emergency landing. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown at this stage, with investigators launching a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Smoke was seen rising from the debris as local residents gathered nearby, witnessing the aftermath of the catastrophic incident that has sent shockwaves through Indian political circles.
Political Figure's Final Journey
Pawar, a prominent figure in Indian politics who led a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, was travelling to Baramati to attend a public meeting amid ongoing local elections in the state. Baramati has long served as his political stronghold throughout his extensive career.
A Veteran Political Career
The veteran politician was one of Maharashtra's longest-serving deputy chief ministers, having held the position under multiple administrations across party lines. His political journey began when he was first elected to India's lower house of parliament in 1991, before going on to win seven terms as a member of the Maharashtra legislative assembly.
In 2019, Pawar triggered a significant political realignment by splitting his party and briefly forming a government with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Last year, India's election authorities formally recognised his faction as the official Nationalist Congress Party, cementing his position within the country's political landscape.
Political Reactions and Legacy
DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of the southern state of Karnataka, expressed his condolences, stating: "Shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Shri Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash. His sudden demise is a great loss to public life and to Maharashtra politics, where he served with experience and resolve."
Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and their two sons, leaving behind a political legacy that spanned decades of service to Maharashtra and Indian politics more broadly.
The aviation accident represents not only a personal tragedy for the families involved but also a significant moment in Indian political history, removing one of the state's most experienced and influential figures from the political stage.
