Ajit Pawar Passes Away: “Lost a Strong Leader and Outstanding Colleague,” Says Uddhav Thackeray on Maharashtra Deputy CM’s Untimely Death in Baramati Plane Crash

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying political differences never affected their personal relationship. In a post on X, the former chief minister said Pawar’s death was a personal loss and described him as a steadfast leader and an excellent former cabinet colleague.

एक खंबीर नेता व माझ्या मंत्रिमंडळातील मी उमदा सहकारी गमावला!

मी मुख्यमंत्री असताना अजित पवार हे उपमुख्यमंत्री, अर्थमंत्री होते. अत्यंत शिस्तप्रिय, आपल्या खात्यावर वचक व अर्थ विभागाचा अभ्यास असणारे ते नेते होते. एक उत्तम सहकारी म्हणून त्यांचे माझे विशेष नाते जमले. अजित पवार हे…

— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) January 28, 2026

“I have lost a strong leader and an excellent colleague from my cabinet! When I was the Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar was the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister. He was an extremely disciplined leader with a firm grip on his department and a deep understanding of the Finance Department,” Uddhav Thackeray wrote on X (formerly twitter).

“We developed a special bond as colleagues. Ajit Pawar was open-hearted. He would speak his mind. He was not someone who held a grudge for long. Even though he chose a different path in politics, he did not let our relationship break,” ex-Maharashtra CM added.

Read Also | Ajit Pawar Funeral: Last Rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM To Be Held Tomorrow at 11am In Baramati

“I never thought he would leave so soon. He was known as a leader who cherished his workers. His departure has created a void in the state’s leadership. In every sense, he was truly ‘Dada’ (elder brother).  Thackeray said, as he offered tributes to Ajit Pawar on behalf of the Thackeray family and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Ajit Pawar served as deputy chief minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government from 2019 to 2022.

Ajit Pawar and four others were killed Wednesday morning when the small aircraft carrying them crashed near Baramati in Pune district.

The accident occurred around 9 a.m., shortly after the plane took off from Mumbai. Pawar was travelling to attend a public meeting amid the ongoing Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.

All five people on board — including Pawar, two security personnel, and two crew members — died in the crash.