Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died today in a tragic plane crash in Baramati. Four other people also lost their lives. The accident happened around 8:45 AM while the aircraft was landing.

Ajit Pawar was travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. He was 66 years old and a senior leader of the NCP. He was flying from Mumbai to Baramati in a Lear Jet 45 aircraft with registration number VT-SSK.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep grief over the loss of his ally and announced three days of state mourning. Many people across the country reacted with sadness. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane also shared their condolences on Ajit Pawar’s sudden death.

Cricketers mourn Ajit Pawar’s death

Sachin Tendulkar said that Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader after the death of Ajit Pawar. He shared his condolences with Pawar’s family and friends. Sachin wrote on X that he was very sad to hear about the untimely death of Ajit Pawar and said that Pawar worked for the people across the state.

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin also reacted with shock. He said he was deeply shaken by the news of the plane crash. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the family and prayed for strength and peace.

Former India cricketer and politician Yusuf Pathan also expressed his sadness. He said Ajit Pawar was a committed leader who served Maharashtra with honesty and dedication. He added that Pawar’s work for public service would always be remembered. Yusuf Pathan also asked for a proper investigation into the plane crash.

अजित पवार यांच्या निधनाची बातमी ऐकून खूप दुःख झाले. महाराष्ट्रासाठी काम करणारा एक चांगला नेता आज आपण अचानक गमावला आहे. पवार कुटुंबियांच्या दुःखात मी सहभागी आहे. ईश्वर त्यांच्या आत्म्यास शांती देवो.
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. ॐ शांती. 🙏🏽

Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 28, 2026

Saddened by the tragic passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dada. My thoughts are with his family. 🙏

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) January 28, 2026

Deeply shaken by the news of Mr. Ajit Pawar’s plane crash. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his family find the strength and courage to endure this profound loss.

— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) January 28, 2026

Deeply saddened by the untimely demise of the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Ajit Pawar in the tragic plane crash. He was a dedicated leader who served the state with utmost commitment and integrity. His contributions to public service and the development of the…

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 28, 2026

About Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar was a senior leader from Maharashtra and represented the Baramati Assembly constituency. He led the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). He was known as a strong administrator with deep influence in state politics.

He started his political journey in 1982 through a sugar cooperative. In 1991, he became an MLA from Baramati and continued to represent the area for many years. He held several important cabinet posts and served many times as Deputy Chief Minister.

In 2019, he briefly joined hands with the BJP, but the alliance ended within days. Later, he joined the MVA government and, in 2023, aligned with the Shinde-BJP group. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and his sons, Parth and Jay.

During the T20 World Cup celebration at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, Rohit Sharma brought some humor to the event. He shared a funny moment about Suryakumar Yadav’s catch in the final against South Africa that left everyone, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, laughing heartily in Marathi.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of Team India delighted the members of Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan during the felicitation ceremony for the T20 World Cup champions. He was warmly welcomed with chants of ‘Mumbai Cha Raja Rohit Sharma’, creating a lively atmosphere akin to fans at Wankhede Stadium.

Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other dignitaries for honoring Mumbai’s cricket stars, Rohit Sharma kept the mood light with his speech. He couldn’t resist making a joke about Suryakumar Yadav’s memorable catch in the final match.

The event at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai saw four members of the victorious T20 World Cup team Rohit Sharma, Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Suryakumar Yadav being honored. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had also felicitated the players at his residence, presenting them with shawls and idols of Lord Ganesha.

Rohit Sharma’s light-hearted moment at maharashtra vidhan bhavan

“After Surya caught the ball, he joked that it almost slipped out of his hands. Thank goodness it didn’t, or I might have had to bench him!” Rohit Sharma’s remark sparked laughter throughout the assembly, becoming a viral moment on social media.

Both Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav spoke in Marathi during the ceremony, adding a personal touch. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar acknowledged Rohit Sharma’s humor, acknowledging how crucial Suryakumar’s catch had been in the final over, keeping the nation on edge until the last moment.

The felicitation took place in the Central Hall, attended by legislators and assembly staff, where Captain Rohit Sharma and the team were honored alongside the statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Rohit Sharma was referring to Suryakumar Yadav’s crucial catch during the final over of the match in Barbados on June 29. Suryakumar’s incredible composure and skill at the boundary rope saved a critical moment when David Miller aimed for a six. This catch was pivotal as it dashed South Africa’s hopes of winning, with the Proteas falling short by 7 runs despite needing just 30 runs in the last 5 overs.

Suryakumar’s catch was compared to Kapil Dev’s iconic catch in the 1983 World Cup final against West Indies. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a breakfast meeting with the T20 World Cup champions in New Delhi, praised the significance of this catch in the final over.