Law Notify : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash at Baramati on Wednesday morning. The Civil Aviation Ministry said a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK), operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport. All five people on board, including Ajit Pawar, two other personnel and two crew members, were killed in the accident.

The final rites of the Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at Baramati in Pune district with full state honours. Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Baramati to pay their last respects. They also met Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule.

Ajit Pawar will be cremated with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishthan ground on Thursday at 11 am. In the wake of the tragedy, the state government has announced three days of state mourning.

Ajit Pawar’s political career spanned nearly four decades. He served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times and handled key portfolios, including Finance. He presented the state budget on 11 occasions. Beyond government, he was deeply involved in the cooperative and sports sectors. He served as Chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank for 16 years and was a long-serving President of the Maharashtra State Olympic Association as well as the Maharashtra Kho-Kho and Kabaddi Association.

Condolences continue to pour in for Maharashtra’s ‘Dada’, remembered for his frank speaking style, administrative grip and close connection with the people.