Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: A six-time Deputy CM who shaped Maharashtra politics

Ajit Pawar. Pic/PTI

Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and one of Maharashtra's most influential power centres, passed away in a plane accident on January 28, 2026.

Early life and entry into politics through cooperative movement

Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar began his political career through the cooperative movement, particularly sugar factories and cooperative banks in western Maharashtra. He was the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar.

Baramati stronghold and repeated electoral victories

Pawar represented the Baramati Assembly constituency - considered his political bastion - and won the seat six times. He briefly entered Parliament in 1991 but later resigned to facilitate Sharad Pawar's Lok Sabha candidature.

Key ministerial roles and record as Deputy Chief Minister

Over the years, Ajit Pawar held several key portfolios, including Finance, Planning, and Water Resources, emerging as one of the most powerful ministers in successive state governments. Known for his firm command over budgets and administration, he earned a reputation for swift decision-making. He holds two notable records: serving as Deputy Chief Minister six times - the most by any leader - and presenting the state budget on 11 occasions, the second highest in Maharashtra's history.

2023 NCP split and family details

In 2023, Pawar engineered a major split in the NCP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance government, a move that dramatically reshaped Maharashtra's political landscape. His faction was later recognised as the official Nationalist Congress Party.

Ajit Pawar is survived by his mother (around 87), his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, and their two sons, Parth and Jay.

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