Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound shock and grief over the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning. Pawar, widely known as “Dada” for his strong grassroots connect, had a long political career marked by administrative expertise and dedication to public service in Maharashtra.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi described Pawar as “a leader of the people” with a remarkable ability to connect with citizens at the grassroots level. “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 noteworthy. His untimely demise is deeply shocking and saddening. Heartfelt condolences to his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister wrote.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the chartered aircraft carrying Pawar, two members of his personal staff, and two crew members crash-landed at Baramati airport around 8:45 am. The plane, which had departed from Mumbai around 8 am, went down during its landing attempt, and all five people on board lost their lives.

Ajit Pawar was en route to Baramati to address a public rally for the Zilla Parishad elections. Visuals from the crash site show smoke and flames rising from the wreckage, highlighting the severity of the incident. Emergency responders were quick to arrive at the site, but the intensity of the crash left no survivors.

Pawar was the nephew of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, and cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. His political journey spanned decades, during which he held the office of Deputy Chief Minister six times under various state governments, navigating complex political landscapes with influence and authority.