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Boarded plane for rallies: Why was Ajit Pawar going to Pune's Baramati?
Pawar, who became the Deputy CM of the state in 2024 after Mahayuti's sweep the Maharashtra assembly elections, left from Mumbai at 8 am on Wednesday.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning after a chartered plane crashed in Pune's Baramati. Along with the NCP leader, four others on board were killed in the horrific crash.
Pawar, who became the Deputy CM of the state in 2024 after Mahayuti's sweep the Maharashtra assembly elections, left from Mumbai at 8 am on Wednesday. Follow LIVE updates here
The NCP leader was scheduled to address four election rallies in his home turf of Baramati.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the plane reportedly lost control and crashed while landing at an airport in Baramati.
Also Read | Massive fire, plane split on impact: What we know so far about Ajit Pawar plane crash
As per DGCA, no person on board survived the crash. “Aircraft crash landed at Baramati. Sh. Ajit Pawar, Dy. CM, Maharashtra was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendent) and 2 crew (PIC+FO) members. As per initial information, no person on board has survived the crash,” said the official statement from the DGCA.
"The aircraft VT SSK was attempting a landing, and the aircraft went off the side of the runway and crashed," Baramati airport manager Shivaji Taware told HT.
Election rallies on schedule before ill-fates crash.
Ajit Pawar's visit to Baramati was also planned after both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party announced their contest for the upcoming Zilla Parishad Panchayat Samiti election.
This announcement came in the wake of the severe drubbing the two NCP factions received in the Pune civic elections, where the BJP stunned the Pawars in their traditional stronghold.
Also Read | Multiple explosions, huge fire: What eyewitnesses said on Baramati plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar
Speaking to reporters, NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde said the factions have decided to join hands for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections scheduled on February 5.
"Both parties had a discussion. We will contest elections to 12 Zilla Parishads together. Also, if there's a need for a friendly contest, we will think about it," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads (ZP) and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra will be held on February 5, and counting of votes will be taken up on February 7.
