Baramati mourns the untimely and sudden death of her son. One of the strongest political pillars of the Pawar fort has been lost today (January 28, 2026), leaving behind a party that will likely be on the verge of turmoil amid speculations of a Pawar family reunion. The unfortunate and tragic demise took place in his home constituency Baramati, which had brought him to power for eight consecutive terms, the last time against the might of his own uncle Sharad Pawar following the vertical split of the Nationalist Congress Party in 2023.
Ajit Pawar dies in Baramati plane crash: Follow live updates on January 28, 2026
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Anantrao Pawar, 66, died in a plane crash on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) morning.
Sharad Pawar’s nephew, MP Supriya Sule’s cousin, is survived by his mother Ashatai Pawar, wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetratai Pawar, sons Parth and Jai Pawar. He was an extremely private man, not having many personal friends or any life other than a highly disciplined public life. In fact, when a clip of him dancing during his son Jai’s wedding in Bahrain recently went viral, he wasn’t too keen on talking about it. He did not like to interact so much with the media, although his rustic comments, straight talk and sense of humor brought him into the limelight. These comments and comebacks endeared him to his voters, making his reels go viral among the youth, gaining him followers on social media. They also made him controversial, at times drawing anger due to his insensitivity, such as his earlier remarks at a farmers’ rally during the drought, when there was no water in the dams.
He learned the art of politics from his uncle Sharad Pawar. His politics were defined, and perhaps even limited, by the towering presence of Sharad Pawar. After the split of NCP in 2023, Ajit Pawar completely came out of Sharad Pawar’s shadow. The silent struggle for party legacy between him and Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule has been a talking point in state politics for years, even though both leaders had publicly claimed that the jurisdiction was clear to them. He will say that state politics will be handled by Ajit Pawar, while national politics will be handled by Supriya Sule.
He was known as a highly disciplined public leader who would often start his work by 6 or 7 in the morning. He used to joke that he was part of a 24-hour government. While he used to start work early in the morning, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis used to work till late night and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde used to work till early hours of the night.
Known as an able public leader with a strong hold on administration, he was appreciated for his financial management as Finance Minister for the successful implementation of the Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme. He also faced criticism from colleagues over misappropriation of funds.
In pictures Ajit Pawar’s political journey
Ajit Pawar became the youngest member of the Sudhakarrao Naik cabinet after winning from Baramati by a record margin of votes. In June 1991, Maharashtra Governor C. Subramaniam administered him the oath at the Raj Bhavan.
Ajit Pawar was first sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister in the cabinet of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan (right) in November 2010.
Ajit Pawar was seen with fellow NCP leader and his cousin Supriya Sule during the Nationalist Youth Fair in Satara, Maharashtra in 2012.
Ajit Pawar (second from right) announces his resignation as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in Mumbai in 2012 following allegations of misuse of funds. He was eventually reinstated.
In this April 14, 2013 photo, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar sits on a day’s fast (self-affliction) near the mausoleum of YB Chavan in Karad, Maharashtra, after using inappropriate language towards drought-hit people.
Praful Patel presented a bouquet to Ajit Pawar, who was elected as the NCP Assembly leader in October 2019.
Ajit Pawar at a rally after filing nomination in Baramati in 2019. He has been representing the assembly constituency for a record eight terms since 1991.
On November 23, 2019, when NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress were trying to form an alliance together, Ajit Pawar and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis (left) were administered the oath of office as Deputy CM and Chief Minister by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Ajit Pawar briefly supported the BJP in 2019, but the government fell without the support of enough MLAs. He later joined the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance with Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP in 2019.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray garlanding MVA leaders Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat and Ajit Pawar during the MVA’s ‘Vajramuth’ public rally in Nagpur in April 2023.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar speaking during a book launch in south Mumbai as supporters appeal to Sharad Pawar to withdraw his decision to step down as President in May 2023.
Ajit Pawar inaugurated the new NCP office near Mantralaya in Mumbai in July 2023.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on July 18, 2023.
In 2023, Ajit Pawar initiated a split within the NCP by allying with the BJP-Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena alliance. During this period, Eknath Shinde served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 2023 to 2024, with Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state.
Mahayuti leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar celebrate during the press conference after the Maharashtra Assembly election results held at the CM’s official residence in Mumbai in November 2024. The alliance won 233 of the 288 assembly seats, an unprecedented electoral victory not seen in Maharashtra since the 1980s.
Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy CM for the sixth time during the swearing-in ceremony held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on December 5, 2024.
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Was Deputy CM five times
With all parties across the political spectrum of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar had the distinction of becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a record five times. He became DCM with the Congress for the first time between 2010 and 2012; Then in November 2019 he stayed with the BJP for one of the shortest tenures, lasting three days. His rebellion against his uncle Sharad Pawar ended within 80 hours, when many MLAs who had defected to him to support the BJP returned to Sharad Pawar. He then showed an olive branch to his uncle and returned to him, and became the Deputy Chief Minister under the Maha Vikas Aghadi with Shiv Sena and Congress.
Meanwhile, the NCP was divided in 2023, with most senior leaders supporting Ajit Pawar, who became the deputy chief minister for the fourth time. This time supporting BJP. After the 2024 elections, he became the DCM for the fifth time, and was in power with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
He harbored aspirations of becoming Chief Minister, but was also practical enough to understand the numerical dynamics behind it. He never hid his aspiration, but also pointed out how the current circumstances and the dynamics of numbers were not conducive to it.
corruption allegations
He was accused of being involved in Vidarbha’s multi-crore irrigation scam during his tenure as Water Resources Minister. Due to the allegations, he had to resign from the post of DCM in 2012. In fact, the BJP had come with a bullock cart full of alleged evidence against him and other NCP leaders and was claiming a ₹70,000 irrigation scam. That protest was led by Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde. After this, Mr. Fadnavis vowed to send Ajit Pawar to jail. Mr Pawar was given a clean chit by the Anti Corruption Bureau in 2019.
Ajit Pawar was also charged in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, which related to alleged irregularities in loans given by MSCB to sugar mills. Recently his son Parth Pawar was accused of land scam in Pune.
Rebellion and struggle for political space
Ajit Pawar was a dreaded political leader who had wide influence in Baramati, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad. The BJP had reduced his importance in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, but Baramati was completely under Pawar’s control. He often expressed displeasure at being sidelined within the party hierarchy by his uncle Sharad Pawar, who he felt gave preference to daughter Supriya Sule. Ahead of the split in 2023, there was visible underlying power struggle for succession in the joint party. Earlier, Maharashtra had also witnessed incidents of their rebellion and anonymity.
In a highly emotional speech following the formal split in the party in 2023, she had, in a rare public gesture, spoken openly about the alleged unfair treatment meted out to her uncle, justifying her stand against him.
In a party that formed alliances and felt like being part of power, without any ideological barriers, his personal journey was full of struggle. He struggled to prove himself to the party’s legacy within the state, fighting to get his wife elected against cousin Supriya Sule. After losing that struggle, he made his wife a Rajya Sabha MP. His struggle for the political career of his son Parth Pawar was also unsuccessful.
published – January 28, 2026 06:38 PM IST
