Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed after an aircraft carrying him crashed at Baramati in Pune district on January 28, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) condoled the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying his untimely death is an irreparable loss.
In a post on X, she said Pawar will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector.
Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday (January 28) morning, officials said.
“The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss,” she said in the post in Hindi.
Ms. Murmu expressed deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers.
“May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow,” the President said.
A leader of the people: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, saying that “Shri Ajit Pawar ji was a leader of the people with a strong grassroots connect.”
“He was widely respected as a hardworking personality at the forefront of serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administrative matters and passion for empowering the poor and downtrodden were also noteworthy. His untimely demise is very shocking and saddening. Condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” PM Modi added.
Deeply distressed: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, the news of the senior NDA colleague’s loss has left him deeply distressed.
“Today, the news of the loss of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar ji in a tragic accident has left me deeply distressed. The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three-and-a-half decades cannot be expressed in words,” he said.
“Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me. I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place at his divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” Mr. Shah said in a tweet in Hindi..
Extremely heartbreaking: Rahul Gandhi
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the news of the demise of Ajit Pawar and his fellow travellers in the plane accident is extremely heartbreaking.
“The news of the demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar ji and his fellow travellers in a plane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow,” Mr. Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Published – January 28, 2026 11:29 am IST
