28 January,2026 01:09 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with party leader Rahul Gandhi. File Pic/PTI
The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge remembering him as a seasoned leader who discharged his responsibilities with sincerity and astuteness.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also condoled Pawar's demise. In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said the news of the death of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and his fellow travellers in the aircraft accident was "extremely heartbreaking." He said he stood with the people of Maharashtra in this moment of grief and extended condolences to the Pawar family and their loved ones.
Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed when the aircraft carrying them crashed in Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said. The incident occurred while the plane was attempting to land near Baramati.
In a post on X, Kharge said the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash was deeply shocking and profoundly distressing. "It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately express the grief the bereaved family must be enduring," he said, extending condolences to Pawar's family, supporters and well-wishers.
"Having served the people of Maharashtra in various constitutional capacities, Shri Ajit Pawar shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness," Kharge added.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of Pawar's death and that of others in the horrific plane crash was extremely heartbreaking. In a post on X in Hindi, she offered condolences to Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and the entire family, as well as to Pawar's supporters.
"May God grant peace to the departed souls. Deepest condolences to revered Sharad Pawar Ji, Supriya Sule Ji and their entire family, and to the supporters of revered Ajit Pawar Ji," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
According to Flight Radar data, the aircraft took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and disappeared from radar around 8.45 am. Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at around 8.50 am, a police official said.
