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.

Published on: Jan 28, 2026, 10:36:03 IST

By Danita Yadav

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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.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed after an aircraft carrying him crashed at Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday (PTI)

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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