Mumbai/IBNS-CMEDIA: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five others died in a plane crash that occurred in Baramati on Wednesday, media reports said. He was 66.
The crash occurred during landing at Baramati airport, around an hour after the aircraft took off from Mumbai at approximately 8 am.
No person onboard has survived, reports say although official confirmation is yet to be issued.
Ajit Pawar, who headed his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati for a political campaign.
The plane crashed during the landing, DGCA has been quoted by several media.
Visuals from the crash site showed fire, thick plumes of smoke and scattered debris of the aircraft.
Mourning his demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, having a strong grassroots level connect.
“He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti.”
Pawar was the nephew of former Maharashtra Chief Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and the cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule.
Ajit Pawar was one of Maharashtra’s most influential and controversial political figures, with a career spanning over three decades.
