Speaking to reporters, Sharad Pawar said Ajit Pawar’s death was a major shock for Maharashtra and described him as a hardworking and efficient leader whose loss was 'irreparable'
Ajit Pawar was among those killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Maharashtra's Pune. File Pic/X
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday described the plane crash that killed his nephew, Ajit Pawar, as a tragic accident and urged that it should not be politicised, reported the PTI.
Speaking to reporters, Sharad Pawar said Ajit Pawar’s death was a major shock for Maharashtra and described him as a hardworking and efficient leader whose loss was “irreparable”. He added, “Not all things are in our hands,” the news agency reported.
Sharad Pawar appeared to respond indirectly to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the crash. He said there was no politics involved and urged people not to make political claims about the incident.
“A stand was floated from Kolkata that there is some politics involved in this incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. It was an accident. I request not to bring politics into it,” he said.
Mamata Banerjee seeks SC-monitored probe
Mamata Banerjee has argued that existing agencies are compromised and only a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the aircraft crash would be credible.
She claimed the truth would not emerge through current mechanisms.
अजित पवार ह्यांचा अपघाती मृत्यू हा महाराष्ट्राला प्रचंड मोठा धक्का आहे. एक कर्तृत्ववान आणि निर्णय घेण्याची शक्ती ज्यांच्यात आहे अशा व्यक्तीला महाराष्ट्र आज मुकला. जे काही नुकसान झालंय ते भरून निघणारं नाही पण सगळ्याच गोष्टी काही आपल्या हातात नसतात.
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) January 28, 2026
मी आज मिडियासमोर येणार नव्हतो… pic.twitter.com/SI2qBqsnpH
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, supported Banerjee’s demand for an independent investigation.
Several opposition leaders, including Kharge, stated that Banerjee’s demand for a court-monitored probe was valid.
Crash should be probed: Congress
Kharge said the crash should be investigated as it was a serious incident. He questioned why a small plane crashed when larger aircraft have had similar accidents in the past. He also offered condolences and said Ajit Pawar’s death was a great loss, according to the PTI.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Banerjee’s demand was justified and called for an impartial inquiry, citing previous similar incidents involving VIPs, reported the PTI.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai also urged a thorough investigation, noting the rising number of private and chartered flights and the recurring technical issues reported after accidents, the news agency reported.
Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: Follow LIVE Updates here
Ministers reject political claims
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticised Banerjee’s remarks, calling them “dirty politics” and unfair during a time of mourning. He said such comments should have waited until after the last rites and accused her of acting for political gain, according to the PTI.
BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra said the Pune incident should be fully investigated.
(with PTI inputs)
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