28 January,2026 04:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Ajit Pawar was among those killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Maharashtra`s Pune. File Pic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow following Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash.
PM Modi spoke to NCP (SP) chief and Ajit Pawar's uncle Sharad Pawar and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and his party leaders.
In an post on X, earlier in the day, PM Modi wrote, "Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief."
"The prime minister spoke to Sharad Pawar on the sad demise of Ajit Pawar and expressed his condolences," officials told the PTI.
PM Modi described Ajit Pawar as a leader with a strong grassroots connection and praised his long public service and dedication to the people of Maharashtra.
He further wrote, "Ajit Pawar 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."
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"My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief," he added.
Ajit Pawar, 66, was among the those killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Maharashtra's Pune district on Wednesday morning.
Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday that preliminary information suggests poor visibility at Baramati airport at the time of the crash involving the aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar and four other people on board died when the chartered plane crashed on Wednesday morning.
Following the tragic incident, Naidu, along with Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, flew from Delhi to Pune to attend Ajit Pawar's last rites.
