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Baramati/ New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke personally with veteran leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday to convey his condolences following the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The senior NCP leader was killed earlier that morning when his aircraft crashed-landed in Baramati.
According to the reports, Ajit Pawar was travelling to his stronghold of Baramati to address a public rally ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. The ill-fated aircraft, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was originally scheduled for a 7:00 AM departure. However, the flight was delayed, eventually taking off at 8:10 AM.
The tragedy unfolded shortly after, with Air Traffic Control (ATC) receiving the harrowing news of the crash at 9:12 AM. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), there were no survivors. The crash claimed a total of five lives, including Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, two of his personal staff members, and two crew members.
"A leader of the people": PM Modi’s tribute
Before speaking with Sharad Pawar, the Prime Minister took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay a heartfelt tribute to the departed NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy CM.
"Shri Ajit Pawar ji was a people's leader who had a strong bond with the people and a deep connection with the grassroots. He was widely respected as a hardworking personality who always remained at the forefront in the service of the people of Maharashtra. He had profound knowledge of administrative matters. His passion for the empowerment of the poor and the deprived was particularly noteworthy. His untimely demise is extremely shocking and deeply saddening. Heartfelt condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti," the PM posted on X.
Tributes pouring in from across party lines
The news has unified a fractured political atmosphere, with tributes pouring in from across party lines. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also issued an official statement, mourning the "unfortunate and tragic" loss of a leader with a "long and influential public life."
“The sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar in a plane crash today is deeply unfortunate and tragic. He had a long and influential public life. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh offers its heartfelt tributes and prays to God to grant peace to his soul. Om Shanti,” an official statement read.
Investigation and final rites
The focus has now shifted to determining the cause of the disaster. A specialised team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has already arrived in Baramati to begin a thorough probe. Investigators have also visited the offices of VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd to examine maintenance records and flight logs.
Maharashtra prepares to bid a final farewell to its Deputy CM tomorrow, Thursday. The last rites are scheduled to be performed at approximately 11:00 AM at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati. Thousands of supporters and dignitaries are expected to gather to pay their final respects to the Maharashtra deputy CM.
