The mortal remains of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar have been brought to the Vidya Pratishtan ground for the last rites. Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay, performed the last rites of their father.
The funeral procession of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar began on Thursday morning from his residence in Katewadi, his native village, with full state honours.
The procession has reached the cremation ground after covering a distance of approximately six kilometres.
Earlier, hundreds of mourners gathered at the Pawar residence to pay their last respects to the senior Nationalist Congress Party leader, who died in a plane crash.
Local residents, along with NCP workers, thronged the gates, chanting slogans in his memory.
“A leader like him will not be born again,” said several mourners, lauding his contributions to the region’s development.
Supporters raised slogans such as “Ajit Dada amar rahe” and “Ajit Dada parat ya” (Long live Ajit Dada; Ajit Dada, come back), echoing across his political stronghold.
At the residence, Ajit Pawar’s family, including his wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, his sons Parth and Jay, and his younger brother Shrinivas Pawar, received tributes from those assembled, who offered folded hands in respect.
Following the final darshan at his home, the mortal remains were taken to the sports ground of Vidya Pratishthan in Baramati, where the last rites will be performed with full state honours.
Pawar (66) and four others were killed on Wednesday morning when a chartered Learjet aircraft crashed near the tabletop runway at Baramati airport, barely 200 metres from its edge. The aircraft had taken off from Mumbai and was attempting a second landing approach when the tragedy occurred.
The sudden demise of the veteran leader has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra’s political landscape, leaving a vacuum in the BJP-led ruling coalition and casting uncertainty over the future of the NCP, which he headed.
Pawar's body identified through his wristwatch
According to eyewitnesses, Pawar’s body was identified at the crash site by his wristwatch
A video circulating on social media showed the wristwatch on a charred body at the site.
Those killed in the crash included Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had over 15,000 flying hours; co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak with 1,500 hours of experience; personal security officer Vidip Jadhav; and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The last rites will be performed with full state honours at the Vidya Pratishtan grounds on Thursday. The funeral procession will begin at 9 am, followed by cremation at 11 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, senior leaders from across the political spectrum, and thousands of citizens from across Maharashtra are expected to attend the funeral.