There was a chill in the air and the winter mist enveloping the sugarcane fields of Baramati seemed to hang heavier than usual on Thursday morning. In the serene village of Katewadi, every beat of rural life had given way to an eerie silence punctuated by wails from a far-off convoy of sirens. Around 7 am, the body of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was brought to his ancestral home to a nation mourning the homecoming of a politician whose political life was as colourful and tempestuous as its end was tragic.
Popularly called Ajit Dada by NCP workers and supporters, the 66-year-old had perished in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday morning. While flying from Mumbai to Baramati for a campaign rally for ZP election, his private Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) reportedly encountered bad visibility and subsequently crash-landed bursting into flames a little distance away from the runway.
The Final Journey to Katewadi
Wreathed with flowers, the ambulance drove into the gates of the Pawar residence, where there was an air of sorrow. Narrow roads were lined with thousands of villagers who knew Ajit Pawar not only as a powerful minister, but also as a neighbor and benefactor. “Long live Ajit Dada,” they cried, and several were reduced to tears, their voices reflecting the collective shock of a state where he has reigned politically for more than 40 years.
The home was intimate inside. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sons Parth and Jaye received the remains as white-clad supporters covered them like waves. Standing by his side were first of relatives to arrive, his cousin MP Supriya Sule and nephew Rohit Pawar, which was also a moment that put asunder the political rift seen in last few years and came together during this time of personal loss.
“He was not just a leader, but the clock by which Baramati set its pulse,” said an aging local farmer. “Whether it was water for the fields or a school for our kids, Dada would get the work done. The idea of seeing him coming back like that hits on something we weren’t prepared for.”
Details of the Tragic Accident
The crash, which took place at around 8:45 AM on Wednesday has shaken the aviation and political community. Initial reports from DGCA state that the aircraft made a second approach to land on Baramati airport in dense fog and low visibility (800mt approx.)
The flight crew — Pilot-in-Command Sumit Kapur and First Officer Shambhavi Pathak — told air traffic control that the runway was out of sight before a last, ultimately fatal attempt to land, according to the Centre. The plane hit the ground about 200 meters from the runway threshold and several explosions followed.
Tragically, there were no survivors. In addition to the Dy CM, those who died in the crash were:
- Vidip Jadhav, Personal Security Officer
- Pinky Mali, Flight Attendant
- Sumit Kapur, Pilot
- Shambhavi Pathak, Co-pilot
Poor Visibility Led to Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash, Pilot Warned Before Tragedy
A Grieving State: Reflections and Tributes Begin to Arrive
The state mourning was announced by the Maharashtra government for three days and the national flag is to be flown at half mast on all its buildings. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who had a complicated but fruitful working relationship with Pawar in the Mahayuti cabinet, are likely to arrive from Baramati soon for their last tributes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will also be present at the last rites, reflecting the national importance of Pawar’s stature in Indian politics. PM Modi said he was a ”leader of the people and had an “uncompromising commitment to public welfare”.
Even his political competitors have stopped to acknowledge his legacy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders were among those who extended their heartfelt condolences, stating that despite close encounters in political field, nobody could match Ajit Pawar when it comes to administrative hold and work.
The Legacy of “Dada”
The career of Ajit Pawar was a lesson in mass-level politics. Right from the days when he began his career in the sugar cooperatives to emerging as a six time Deputy Chief Minister, Pawar was also known for his forthrightness, ‘7:00 AM work culture’ and iron-fisted administrative capabilities. He was the man behind building a modern Baramati, which became not only an industrial but also educational epicenter.
Though his career was not without its share of controversies, punctuated by some high-profile rebellions and probes, his style of springing back had earned him the tag of a “Phoenix” in the Maharashtra politics. The demise leaves a huge void not just in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) but also in the fragile equilibrium of the ruling coalition partners in the state.
Congress leader and former Union Minister Shivraj Patil passes away
Funeral Arrangements and Last Rites
After the short stop at his Katewadi residence, the body will be shifted to the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati. The Pawar family has set up an educational campus Lookarwadi this is the place where public homage will be paid between 9 am and 11 am.
Last rites will be performed with full State Honours around 11 am. Heavy security have been put in place as nearly five lakhs people are likely to throng into the town to pay their last tribute to their leader.
As the sun rises over Maharashtra in India today, the state bids farewell to one of its most industrious sons. The ‘Clock’ has stopped, but the effects of Ajit Pawar’s 39-year journey will reverberate in the corridors of Mantralaya and the fields of Baramati for decades.
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