The funeral procession is scheduled to begin at 9 am from the Vidya Pratishthan campus (Gadima), move through key parts of the town to allow people to pay their respects, and conclude at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where the last rites will be performed at 11 am
Ajit Pawar. Pic/PTI
The final journey of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will take place today, with his mortal remains being carried in a flower-decked rath as part of the Antim Yatra in Baramati, reported news agency ANI.
Flower-decked rath to carry mortal remains through Baramati
The ceremonial chariot has been richly decorated with flowers and bears Pawar’s photograph along with a message paying tribute to him. The funeral procession is scheduled to begin at 9 am from the Vidya Pratishthan campus (Gadima), move through key parts of the town to allow people to pay their respects, and conclude at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where the last rites will be performed at 11 am, reported ANI.
Supporters gather early; emotional scenes outside hospital
Even before the procession began, large numbers of party workers and supporters gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Hospital in Baramati, where Pawar’s body was kept before being taken to his residence.
Among those mourning was party worker Chandrashekar Patil, who broke down while remembering Pawar’s disciplined lifestyle and deep connection with the people. “He was like the elder of our family. Who will guide us now? He would start his day early, listen to people’s problems and work tirelessly,” Patil said, struggling to hold back tears, reported ANI.
Uddhav, Aaditya Thackeray pay last respects
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and leader Aaditya Thackeray visited Pawar’s residence in Baramati to convey their condolences to the bereaved family.
Postmortems of other crash victims completed
Meanwhile, postmortem examinations of the other victims of the Baramati plane crash — pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak and flight attendant Pinky Mali — have been completed. The examinations were carried out at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College, after which their bodies were handed over to their families.
Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the aircraft he was travelling in crashed at Baramati airport. He was en route to attend a public meeting linked to the Zilla Parishad elections.
A political journey spanning cooperatives, ministries and six terms as Deputy CM
Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara in Ahmednagar district, Pawar earned the name “Ajit Dada” for his no-nonsense style, accessibility and deep roots among the people of Maharashtra. Apart from his role in government, he played a key part in strengthening cooperative institutions, including milk unions, sugar factories and federations.
His political journey began in the cooperative sector and took a major turn in 1991 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha. Over the years, he went on to serve multiple terms as an MLA, held several ministerial portfolios and became Deputy Chief Minister six times across different governments — making him the longest-serving Deputy CM in the state in non-consecutive terms.
He held the post under chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. In 2019, he briefly aligned with the BJP after a split in the NCP, and in February 2024, the Election Commission recognised the faction led by him as the official NCP.
Despite political differences, Pawar shared a close bond with his uncle Sharad Pawar, under whose mentorship he entered public life. Recently, both NCP factions came together in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic elections with a joint development agenda.
Known for his blunt speaking style and decisive leadership, Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.
(With inputs from ANI)
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