Maharashtra politics was thrown into shock after reports confirmed that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash during a landing attempt at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash today
The tragic incident has led to a deep mourning across the state, and condolences are pouring in for the Power family. As per initial information shared by aviation authorities, the aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar, his personal staff, and crew members crash-landed in Baramati, his political stronghold. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that no person on board survived the crash. Official confirmation from the Maharashtra government is awaited, but political leaders across parties have started paying tributes.
VIDEO | Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district. Visuals from spot.
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/6UnMLKwqtp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026 “>
PM Modi shared on an X post, “Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.”
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… pic.twitter.com/mdgwwGzw4R
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026 “>
Who Was Ajit Pawar?
Ajit Anantrao Pawar, born July 22, 1959, was a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and the 8th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, serving alongside Eknath Shinde under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis since December 2024. He represented the Baramati assembly constituency continuously since 1991 and was one of the longest-serving MLAs in the state.
Mainly known for his grip over finance, irrigation, and planning departments, Ajit Pawar played a major role in shaping Maharashtra’s cooperative sector, especially in western Maharashtra.
Ajit Pawar Family Tree
Ajit Pawar hailed from the Pawar family of Baramati, a household synonymous with political power in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar was born in Deolali Pravara, Ahmednagar district.
His father, Anantrao Pawar, worked at Rajkamal Studios, and his mother, Ashatai Pawar, was a social worker known for advocating family unity.
Ajit Pawar’s Wife and Sons
Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, is also a political figure, a Rajya Sabha MP and chairperson of Baramati Textile Cooperative.
He had two sons, Parth Pawar, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Maval, and Jay Pawar, who is a businessman.
Sunetra Pawar became a political figure in her own right in recent years, while Parth Pawar was seen as the family’s next-generation political face.
The Extended Pawar Political Network
The Pawar family’s influence in politics is huge in Maharashtra. One of the well-known figures is Sharad Pawar, founder of NCP, former Maharashtra CM, and national political heavyweight. Sharad Pawar has served for three terms as the chief minister of Maharashtra.
Ajit Powar’s cousin Supriya Sule, is a Baramati MP and senior NCP leader, and his nephew Rohit Pawar, is an MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed.
According to publicly available information, the Pawar family’s roots trace back to Govindrao Pawar, who was a farmer involved in cooperative movements, and Shardabai Pawar, who was associated with rural development initiatives.
Over decades, the Pawars built dominance across sugar cooperatives, textiles, infrastructure, and regional politics in the Pune and Ahmednagar districts.
With Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash, succession discussions within the Pawar family and the NCP are expected to intensify.
