Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dies In Baramati Plane Crash

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died after the aircraft carrying him crashed on Wednesday morning. The Learjet 45 crash-landed while trying to land at Baramati airport. Six people, including crew members, were on board, and all were killed in the accident, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. The aircraft took off from Mumbai at around 8:10 am and crashed about half an hour later. Authorities are still trying to determine what led to the crash.

Ajit Pawar was a senior figure in the Nationalist Congress Party and the nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar. He held the post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister under four different leaders. In 2023, he broke away from the Nationalist Congress Party, triggering a split that left Sharad Pawar leading the remaining faction. Ajit Pawar then aligned with the NDA and returned to the government as Deputy Chief Minister.