Who was Ajit Pawar?: The Six-Time Deputy CM And Strongman Of Baramati

Mumbai: Maharashtra woke up to a shocking news on Wednesday morning. The state's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after the aircraft he was travelling crash-landed near Baramati in Pune district.

The plane crashed when it was landing, sending up thick smoke and leaving wreckage scattered across a field.

Who Was on Board?

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) statement, the aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR and registered as VT-SSK, crashed when it was attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport. 

The Nationalist Congress Party leader was onboard along with two personnel, one PSO and one attendant and two crew members, the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and the First Officer (FO).

"As per initial information, no person on board has survived the crash," DGCA said.

Pawar, who had attended a Cabinet meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday was scheduled to attend multiple political events in Baramati today.

Immediatedly after the crash, rescue team, ambulance and police teams rushed to the site. Fire and smoke filled the sky, and debris scattered over a wide area.

What is the reason of crash?

Details about whether the plane crash occurred due to technical fault, weather or any control lapse during landing are still nhot clear. All aspects are being thoroughly investigated.

Who Was Ajit Pawar?

Ajit Pawar was 66 and one of the Maharashtra's most influential politicians. The senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra under various governments, first from 1991 to 1995 during the Congress-NCP coalition, then from 2009 to 2014, and finally from 2019 to 2026.

Pawar, who was serving as the state's Deputy Chief Minister and also handled key portfolios, such as finance, irrigation and rural sectors. 

Pawar had a long political career but not without controversies. He was often at the spotlight because of corruption allegations and blunt public remarks.

The corruption allegations were linked to irrigation projects when he was serving as the water resources minister in 2000.

He first entered electoral politics in 1991 and was elected MP from Baramati. Although he later resigned from the seat so that Sharad Pawar could contest after the senior Pawar was inducted into the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.  

In 1995, Pawar's long legislative career began, when he was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly from Baramati. And later, he was re-elected multiple times from the same constituency, often by large margins. His victories in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 reflected his strong connection with his electorate and presented him the most powerful leader of the region. 

The main differences in the party started when he jointed the BJP-led alliance and split the party founded by Sharad Pawar.

In November 2019 he joined a government led by the BJP and became the Deputy Chief Minister. In February 2024, the Election Commission awarded the party name and symbol to the faction headed by Ajit Pawar. 

What's next in the investigation?

Officials have yet to confirm the exact cause of the crash. Investigators and local police are examining the wreckage and flight data to understand what went wrong during the landing attempt. More updates are expected as the probe continues.