Riteish Deshmukh paid tribute to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, on Bigg Boss 19 weekend ka vaar. Pawar tragically died in a plane crash in Baramati leaving entire nation in deep shock. Riteish Deshmukh shared an emotional video paying tribute to late Ajit Pawar.
In this video, Riteish Deshmukh is seen becoming emotional. Meanwhile, on the Bigg Boss stage, Riteish, while speaking about Ajit Pawar, says, "Namaskar, the sun of January 28th, instead of bringing a bright morning, brought a dark night. The shock delivered by that news has left not only me but the entire Maharashtra reeling. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Honorable Ajit Pawar, passed away in an accident. This incident is painful for many Maharashtra lovers like me. Because he was not just the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, but our beloved Dada. We all affectionately and respectfully called him Ajit Dada. But, in truth, he was a father figure."
Riteish continued, addressing Dada directly: "I never imagined I'd be speaking about you today. Your presence and intensity were captivating; now, your passing has left Maharashtra speechless. Dada, you embodied discipline, affection, and social consciousness. Even your reprimands felt encouraging. You had the rare ability to resolve long-stalled projects with a single command, making you the people's champion. You enriched countless lives with your cheerfulness and playful spirit. You emphasized family first, then community. Your unique blend of political acumen and humanity is irreplaceable. Maharashtra has suffered a great loss with the premature passing of father figures like you, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Gopinath Munde, R.R. Patil, Pramod Mahajan, and now you – all devoted to the well-being of Maharashtra. Today, all of Maharashtra mourns. Dada, you were, are, and will remain an inspiration. Inspired by you, I will return to my work." With these words, Riteish Deshmukh paid tribute to Ajit Pawar. Fans were deeply touched by the video.
The accident occurred when Ajit Pawar's plane crashed and caught fire during landing, while he was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati for election campaign rallies for the Zilla Parishad elections. Ajit Pawar and all five people on board the plane died in the accident. He passed away at the young age of 66.
Ajit Pawar's death has left the Pawar family, the people of Maharashtra, and artists from the entertainment industry in mourning. Many are expressing their grief by sharing posts remembering Ajit Dada on social media. After Ajit Pawar's death, his wife, Sunetra Pawar, has been elected as the party's group leader. On January 31, 2026 Sunetra Pawar took the oath of office as Deputy Chief Minister. She has become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.