Ajit Pawar death: Huge crowds of supporters, top leaders reach Pune as state prepares for NCP chief's funeral on Thursday

Huge crowds of supporters and top leaders from Maharashtra arrived in Pune on Wednesday following the tragic death of deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near BaramatiPune was on Wednesday evening seen preparing for Ajit Pawars funeral on ThursdayThe city saw a steady flow of party workers and political leaders who gathered to pay their respects and offer condolences at party offices in stateA huge crowd also gathered at Vidya Pratishthan in Pune to pay their last respects to Ajit PawarMourners including party workers and supporters lined the roads to pay respects to the departed leaderFloral tributes and wreaths were laid and many people were seen breaking down in tears as they offered prayersAjit Pawar a prominent figure in Maharashtrarsquos politics was being remembered for his longstanding public service with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembering him as a leader with grassroots connectionsThe state government has announced a period of mourning with several leaders expected to attend the funeral proceedings later in the dayVIDEO Baramati A huge crowd gathered at Vidya Pratishthan to pay their last respects to Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar who died in plane crash earlier todayajitpawarpassedaway Full video available on PTI Videos httpstcon147TvrpG7 pictwittercomSCjQ1YuFSomdash Press Trust of India PTI_News January 28 2026Ajit Pawar to be cremated with state honoursThe funeral will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 am The Nationalist Congress Party NCP said that leaders from across the political spectrum will attend and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to be present the news agency reportedThe crash occurred on Wednesday morning shortly after Ajit Pawar and four others took off from Mumbai In addition to Pawar the victims included his personal security officer an attendant and two crew members the pilotincommand and the first officerAjit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar a Rajya Sabha member and two sons Parth and JayTop leaders meet family members of Ajit PawarSeveral top leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Governor Acharya Devvrat reached Pune to meet Ajit Pawarrsquos family and participate in the mourningLeaders from various political parties also arrived to express their sympathies reflecting the wide impact of the tragedy across the stateState mourns deputy CMThe Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning and flags are being flown at halfmast across the stateA public holiday was announced on WednesdayThe last rites of Ajit Pawar are scheduled to be held with full state honours at Baramati in Maharashtras Pune districtFadnavis Shinde reach PuneMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along Governor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday reached Baramati as Pune began to prepare for NCP chief Ajit Pawars last ritesThe leaders reached the site to offer their condolences to the family and party members as well as to participate in the funeral rituals officials saidThey also met the family members of Ajit PawarIn a post on X the CMO wrote Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Sunetra Pawar the wife of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to offer their condolences Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also present along with them The leaders expressed their sympathy to the family following the tragic plane crash near Baramati that claimed Ajit Pawarrsquos lifeThe plane crashThe Learjet 45 operated by Delhibased VSR Ventures crashlanded at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning The aircraft was carrying five people including Ajit Pawar his security officer an attendant and two crew membersTeams from the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB have arrived to probe the accident Naidu said the investigation would be carried out transparently and more details would be released as they emerge