The Government of Maharashtra said the three-day mourning period would be observed from January 28 to January 30, 2026, as a mark of respect for Pawar’s life and contributions
Ajit Pawar. Pic/PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced a statewide public holiday and three days of state mourning following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier in the day.
Mourning from January 28 to 30, flags at half-mast
The Government of Maharashtra said the three-day mourning period would be observed from January 28 to January 30, 2026, as a mark of respect for Pawar’s life and contributions. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official entertainment programmes will be organised.
Fadnavis calls Pawar’s death an irreparable loss
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the decision on Pawar’s last rites would be taken after discussions with his family. “A state holiday has been declared and three days of state mourning announced. This is an irreparable loss for the entire state of Maharashtra,” he said.
Fadnavis said a “wave of sorrow” had spread across the state, remembering Pawar as a determined and hardworking leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s development. Calling the tragedy a personal loss, he said, “Ajit Dada never wavered under any circumstances. It takes years to build such leadership. His demise is shocking, and for me, it is the loss of a close friend. It is also a huge loss for his family.”
CM, Dy CM to head to Baramati; PM, Shah convey condolences
The Chief Minister said he and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would leave for Baramati shortly. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and conveyed their condolences. “Once we reach Baramati and speak to the family, a decision regarding the funeral will be taken,” Fadnavis said, adding that he had already spoken to Supriya Sule and Parth Pawar.
Crowds gather at hospital; family travels to Baramati
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside the Baramati hospital where Pawar’s mortal remains were brought. NCP working president Praful Patel, along with Supriya Sule, Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, and son Parth Pawar, departed from New Delhi for Baramati.
Ajit Pawar died when a charter aircraft crashed while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati on Wednesday morning. He had been in Mumbai on January 27 to attend a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure chaired by CM Fadnavis.
Aged 66, Pawar was the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar and the cousin of Supriya Sule. He was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, having held the post six times under governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and his two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.
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(With inputs from Agencies)
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