Maharashtra in shock: Former state Home Minister overcome with grief after Ajit Pawar’s death, breaks down on camera

Ajit Pawar death: A plane crashed at around 8:48 am, following which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau dispatched investigation teams to the crash site. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in the mishap.

Ajit Pawar death: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday morning in an unfortunate plane crash. The aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane crash-landed near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board the chartered plane. 

Among the deceased were Pawar's personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots. The crash occurred around 8:48 am, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have dispatched probe teams to the site of the mishap to investigate.

Pawar (66) was on his way to Baramati from Mumbai to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, overcome with grief, NCP–SCP leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was left speechless and visibly emotional about Ajit Pawar’s demise.

Sharad Pawar mourns the loss 

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday urged people not to politicise the death of his nephew Ajit Pawar.

The veteran leader said that the plane crash was an accident and "politics should not be brought into this". 

"This is a huge loss for Maharashtra. Maharashtra has lost a dynamic and decisive leader. Some people are saying there is some politics behind this, but it was an accident, and there is no politics involved. Politics should not be brought into this," Pawar said in a video message.

This comes after Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee hinted at foul play behind the plane crash and demanded the Supreme Court's probe into the incident.

Ajit Pawar: Political and personal life

Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. 

Pawar had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.

(with ANI inputs)