The town of Baramati bid a tearful adieu to one of its most prominent sons, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, whose funeral on Thursday was conducted with utmost state honors following a fatal plane crash. The event symbolized not just personal loss but a seismic shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Family members stood united in sorrow as Pawar’s sons performed the last rites. The guest list read like a who’s who of Indian politics: Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, and Raj Thackeray joined hands in grief, transcending rivalries.
The procession from Pawar’s Katewadi home swelled into a sea of humanity, paralyzing traffic and showcasing the deep affection residents held for their leader. Baramati, long synonymous with Pawar’s vision, came to a standstill.
Wednesday’s crash of the VSR Ventures-operated Learjet 45 killed Pawar, his guard, two pilots, and a crew member. Initial reports indicate a go-around before the fatal landing attempt at 8:43 AM. Investigations by the AAIB are underway, with police filing an ADR.
State-wide mourning for three days reflects the magnitude of the loss. Flags droop at half-mast, public events canceled, as leaders recall Pawar’s contributions to irrigation, education, and rural development.
As flames consumed the pyre, questions linger about the crash’s cause and Pawar’s unfulfilled ambitions. His departure marks the end of an era, but his indomitable spirit in Maharashtra’s growth story remains etched in history.