Maharashtra’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, will be laid to rest with full state honors on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The tragic loss has drawn tributes from across the globe, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed to travel to Baramati tomorrow to pay their final respects to the leader popularly known as “Dada.”
Schedule for the Final Journey
- Wednesday, 5 PM onwards: The mortal remains will be kept at Vidya Pratishthan School, Baramati, for public viewing. Thousands are already queuing to catch a final glimpse of their leader.
- Thursday, 11 AM: The state funeral and cremation will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground. Preparations are currently underway at the site, which was founded by the Pawar family.
- National Mourning: PM Modi has personally spoken to Sharad Pawar to convey his condolences, describing Ajit as a “leader of the people” with an unmatched grassroots connect.
The Investigation: What Went Wrong?
As the AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) begins its probe, several factors are being scrutinized:
- Tabletop Runway Challenge: Baramati Airport features a “tabletop” runway. Reports indicate the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) was attempting its second landing approach.
- Visibility Issues: While some officials suggest visibility was around 3,500 meters, others claim dense morning fog had reduced it significantly, causing the crew to “miss” the runway on the first attempt.
- Final Moments: Flight data shows the crew fell silent immediately after receiving landing clearance. CCTV shows a sharp nosedive just short of the runway threshold.
The Victims: The 5 Lives Lost
The government has officially confirmed the names of the five individuals who perished in the crash:
- Ajit Pawar (66): Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
- Vidip Jadhav: Personal Security Officer (PSO).
- Pinky Mali: Personal Attendant.
- Captain Sumit Kapoor: Pilot-in-Command (16,500+ hours of experience).
- Captain Shambhavi Pathak: First Officer (Co-pilot).
Political Succession: Who Leads the NCP Now?
The tragedy has left a massive power vacuum in Maharashtra politics just weeks before the Zilla Parishad elections.
- The Heirs: Eyes are on Ajit’s sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, as well as his wife, Sunetra Pawar (Rajya Sabha MP), to carry forward his faction of the NCP.
- The Reunion: Rumors of a “Ghar Wapsi” (Homecoming) are swirling. Political analysts suggest that Sharad Pawar may use this moment to unify the two warring NCP factions to stabilize the family legacy.
- Emerging Leader: Rohit Pawar (Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew) is also being viewed as a potential future face of a unified NCP.