‘Untimely demise’, ‘Grassroots leader’: President Murmu, PM Modi and others condole death of Ajit Pawar

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and said that the untimely demise of NCP chief is an “irreparable loss”. Sharing an X post, Murmu said that the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar is an “irreparable loss” for the nation.

The President wrote, “The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow”.

महाराष्ट्र के बारामती में एक विमान दुर्घटना में महाराष्ट्र के उप मुख्यमंत्री, श्री अजित पवार समेत कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। अजित पवार जी का असामयिक निधन एक अपूरणीय क्षति है। उन्हें महाराष्ट्र के विकास में, विशेषकर सहकारी क्षेत्र में, विशेष योगदान के लिए सदैव…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 28, 2026

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar and his co-passengers died when the chartered aircraft they were travelling in crashed near the landing runway of the Baramati airport this Morning. Visuals from the site showed the plane engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Pawar, remembering him as a mass leader with deep grassroots connect.

श्री अजित पवार जी हे जनतेशी घट्ट नाते असलेले, तळागाळाशी मजबूत नाळ असलेले लोकनेते होते. महाराष्ट्रातील जनतेच्या सेवेत सदैव अग्रभागी राहणारे एक मेहनती व्यक्तिमत्त्व म्हणून त्यांना व्यापक आदर होता. प्रशासकीय बाबींची त्यांना सखोल जाण होती. गरीब आणि वंचितांच्या सक्षमीकरणासाठीची… pic.twitter.com/Rn1E8OXQRm

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2026

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “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.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the demise of Pawar, saying he was deeply distressed by the tragic news and hailed Pawar’s decades-long dedication to public service.

आज एका अत्यंत दुःखद अपघातात महाराष्ट्राचे उपमुख्यमंत्री आणि आमचे एनडीएचे (NDA) ज्येष्ठ सहकारी अजित पवार जी यांना गमावल्याची बातमी ऐकून मन अत्यंत व्यथित झाले आहे.

अजित पवार जी यांनी गेली साडेतीन दशके ज्या प्रकारे महाराष्ट्रातील प्रत्येक वर्गाच्या कल्याणासाठी स्वतःला समर्पित केले,…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 28, 2026

In a post on X, Shah said, “Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left my heart deeply distressed. The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades cannot be expressed in words. Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me”.

“I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” he added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday expressed shock over the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a charter plane crash near Baramati earlier today.

Sharing a post on X, Singh wrote, “Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers”.

Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar.

Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 28, 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed grief over the tragic incident and called for a thorough investigation.

In a post on X, Banerjee said, “Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji’s all friends and followers.The incident needs proper investigation”.

Deeply shocked and stunned by the suddden demise of Ajit Pawar! The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss.

My condolences to his family including his uncle…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 28, 2026

Leaders across party lines expressed shock at “heart rending” news, recalled big role in the development of Baramati.

An emotional Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant expressed grief at the news of the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar. “It is very sad news,” Sawant said adding that the entire Pawar family is shattered by the news.

“I always did what he said. He was a bold man. He had a big role in the development of the Baramati region. I express my condolences to the entire Pawar family,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP said.

Most of the MPs were in the national capital to attend the Budget Session of Parliament which begins today. NCP MP Praful Patel, Sharad Pawar’s NCP MP Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar and his wife Sunetra were leaving for Baramati.

According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Baramati died after a crash-landing at 8.45 am this morning. The crash landing of the Mumbai-Baramati charter plane occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati. Pawar was onboard along with two more personnel (one Personal Security Officer(PSO) and one attendant) and two crew members. Further details about the crash are awaited.

Pawar was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections. Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he attended a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present. (ANI)