- By Yashashvi Tak
- Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others died in a charter plane crash-landed,Learjet 45 is a mid-size business jet produced by Bombardier Aerospace, in Baramati, Pune, on Wednesday morning. The Mumbai-to-Baramati flight was carrying Ajit Pawar, two personnel (a PSO and an attendant), and two crew members (pilot-in-command and first officer). According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all five people on board died in the crash.
Amid ongoing Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a public meeting.
Who Was Ajit Pawar?
Ajit Pawar was a key figure in Maharashtra politics, known for shaping the state’s political landscape over the past decades. Born on July 22, 1959, he was the nephew of Sharad Pawar, the founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Before entering active politics, Ajit Pawar was deeply involved in the cooperative movement, which has long been considered the backbone of Maharashtra’s political structure.
He began his electoral journey in 1991 when he was elected as an MLA from Baramati, a constituency he would dominate for years, earning unwavering trust from the people. Over time, Ajit Pawar built a strong political identity of his own, transforming Baramati into a stronghold and cementing his influence at the state level.
Ajit Pawar Political And Family Background
Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, serving non-consecutively under chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 from the Baramati constituency but later vacated the seat for his uncle Sharad Pawar. He was also elected seven times to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Baramati Assembly constituency, winning in 1991 (by-election), 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014. In November 2019, he led a split in the NCP, joined a BJP-led government, and became Deputy Chief Minister.
ALSO READ: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dies As Plane Crashes During Landing In Baramati, All Aboard Killed
In February 2024, the Election Commission recognized his faction of the NCP with the party name and symbol. He was married to Sunetra Pawar and had two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.