Poignant lookback on political journey: Ajit Pawar breathes his last on land he started from

Ajit Pawar, a senior Maharashtra politician and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), died on Wednesday in a plane crash near Baramati. He was 66. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all six people on board the aircraft were killed when it crashed while attempting to land.

Born on July 22, 1959, in Devlali Pravara in Ahmednagar district, Ajit Pawar was a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics for over three decades. He represented the Baramati Assembly constituency multiple times and remained closely associated with the region throughout his political career.

He established a strong base in rural Maharashtra and entered formal electoral politics by winning the Baramati constituency seat in 1991, later becoming a long-term representative of that area. 

Pawar served several terms as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the post during different political configurations. Between 2011 and 2014, he was part of the state government with key responsibilities. He was re-elected as MLA from Baramati in 2014 and again in 2019.

In November 2019, he briefly took oath as Deputy Chief Minister in a short-lived government. From 2019 to 2022, he was part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, where he handled major portfolios including Finance, Planning and Water Resources. In 2022, following a change in the state’s political alignment, he became Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Ajit Pawar was known for his direct administrative style and strong hold over state politics, particularly in western Maharashtra.

He died in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday. Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway.