Page 2 - Ajit Pawar

PM Modi extends best wishes to Sunetra Pawar, new Maharashtra deputy CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his best wishes to Sunetra Pawar, who became the first woman deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. "Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility," Modi said in a post on X. "I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar," the prime minister said. Ajit Pawar died in an air crash in Baramati on January 28. He was the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and the NCP president. On Saturday, Sunetra Pawar was elected as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party. She was administered an oath of office and secrecy as a minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat and was designated the deputy chief minister.

Unaware of Sunetra's swearing-in as Maharashtra Dy CM: Sharad Pawar

Amid reports that Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, will be sworn in as the Maharashtra deputy chief minister, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday distanced himself from the development, claiming he had no idea about it. Addressing a press conference in Baramati, Pawar said that he had found out about the swearing-in through media reports. "We don't know about the swearing-in. We got to know about it through the news. I have no idea about the swearing-in," he said, when asked if anyone from the Pawar family would be attending the ceremony. He said the NCP must have made the decision. "Some people like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare took the initiative. These people might have decided something," he said. The veteran leader further claimed that it was his late nephew Ajit Pawar's wish to unite both factions, and that they were optimistic about it. "Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger

Sunetra Pawar to take charge as Maharashtra Dy CM: Early life, career

Sunetra Pawar is a Member of the Rajya Sabha in Parliament and a prominent public figure in Maharashtra

NCP to meet at Mumbai's Vidhan Bhavan today amid buzz over party merger

This comes amid speculations around Sunetra Pawar as the Deputy CM face and a merger of the two NCP factions

Datanomics: Baramati crash turns focus on safety of non-scheduled flights

The crash of Ajit Pawar's chartered Learjet revives concerns over non-scheduled aviation safety, with data showing recurring landing-phase accidents and runway excursions in India

Ajit Pawar's death leaves Sharad Pawar with hard choices, not an exit

In the absence of his nephew, the responsibility of running the NCP estate may once again devolve on the patriarch, Sharad Pawar

NCP meeting on Jan 31 to name Sunetra Pawar party leader: Bhujbal

Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday said the legislature party meeting of the NCP will be held on January 31, where late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra will be named as its leader. Talking to reporters at the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) office here, Bhujbal said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has conveyed that he has no issues if her oath-taking ceremony as the deputy CM takes place on Saturday itself provided a decision to that effect is taken by the legislature wing of the party. Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and not a member of either house of the Maharashtra legislature. However, the Baramati assembly seat in Pune district has fallen vacant after Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash on Wednesday. "The legislature party meeting of the NCP will be convened on Saturday, where Sunetra Pawar will be named as its leader. Many leaders want her to become the deputy CM," Bhujbal said. The most important thing is to fill the vacant post of

NCP leaders meet CM Fadnavis amid uncertainty after Ajit Pawar's death

Senior NCP leaders on Friday met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here, amid uncertainty over the party's future following the death of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The meeting at the CM's official residence Varsha in south Mumbai, which lasted nearly one and a half hours, was attended by senior NCP leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, national working president Praful Patel, state president Sunil Tatkare and former minister Dhananjay Munde, sources said. According to the sources in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the leaders met Fadnavis to deliberate on the political situation in the state and the way forward for the party after Pawar's sudden demise. However, it was not immediately clear what transpired during the discussions, and there was no official statement from either side after the meeting. The NCP, which Pawar headed, the BJP and Shiv Sena are the constituents of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state. NCP minister Narhari Zirwal on Thursda

Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis polls in Maharashtra postponed to Feb 7

Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra has been rescheduled to Feb 7, following demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar cremated with full state honours; Shah, Gadkari attend funeral

Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, former Union minister Sharad Pawar and BJP president Nitin Nabin attended the 66-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief's funeral

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Black box recovered from Learjet 45 aircraft

The Black Box of the Learjet 45 aircraft that crashed near the Baramati airstrip on Wednesday has been recovered, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. A Black Box is a small device that records information about an aircraft during its flight. It helps in the investigation of aviation accidents. The ministry said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigation into the plane crash, which killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others, is progressing expeditiously. AAIB has the mandate to investigate all accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with a gross weight of 2,250 kg and more or turbojet aircraft. On Wednesday, AAIB was asked to probe the plane crash. "The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered," the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a post on X. Five people, including Pawar, his personal security officer and attendant, as well as two cockpit crew -- ...

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, 4 others killed in plane crash

A Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport early today. There were five persons on board, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar's death was an accident, don't politicise it: Sharad Pawar

In an apparent snub to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the plane crash involving his nephew Ajit Pawar and four others was an accident which shouldn't be politicised. Addressing reporters, he said Ajit's death was a big shock for Maharashtra, which has lost a hardworking and efficient leader, and this loss is irreparable. "Not all things are in our hands," he added. "A stand was floated from Kolkata that there is some politics involved in this incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. It was an accident. I request not to bring politics into it," he added. Banerjee has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Ajit Pawar, alleging that "all other agencies" have been "completely compromised". Stressing that the truth would not emerge through existing mechanisms, Banerjee said only a probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court would be credible.

Visuals from Ajit Pawar's plane crash site in Maharashtra's Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar (66) died after the aircraft he was travelling in crash-landed at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning.

The kingmaker from Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar dies in Baramati plane crash

Ajit Pawar's death will likely cause a tectonic shift in the state's politics

PM Modi expresses grief over Ajit Pawar's death at NCC event in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the National Cadet Corps' PM Rally at Delhi Cantonment on Wednesday, which will mark the culmination of the month-long annual NCC Republic Day Camp. He will also address a gathering of NCC cadets at the Cariappa Parade Ground. "We are all set for the big event, which will begin around 3:30 pm today. There are some contingency measures in place too, in case there is rain," a senior official said. The theme of the PM Rally is 'Rashtra Pratham - Kartavya Nishth Yuva', reflecting the spirit of duty, discipline and national commitment among India's youth. The rally will mark the grand culmination of the NCC Republic Day Camp 2026, which was formally inaugurated on January 5 by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan. The NCC had announced on January 3 that 2,406 NCC cadets, including 898 girls, from across the country are participating in the annual camp this year. More than 200 cadets and officers from over 20 friendly foreign countries, including Bh

Mamata demands SC monitored probe into Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Ajit Pawar in a place crash, alleging that "all other agencies" have been "completely compromised" Stressing that the truth would not emerge through existing mechanisms, Banerjee said only a probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court would be credible. "We trust only the Supreme Court. All other agencies have been completely compromised," she told reporters here before leaving for Singur. Pawar (66), the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and four others were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning.

Ajit Pawar's death: Maharashtra govt announces 3-day state mourning

The government on Wednesday declared three days of state mourning across Maharashtra as a mark of respect to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, officials said. A message circulated by the protocol section of the General Administration Department said Pawar passed away on the morning of January 28. As per the government's instructions, state mourning will be observed from January 28 to January 30, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly, the department said in an official communication. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period, it said. The department further declared that all state government offices across Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday on account of the demise of the deputy chief minister. The message, issued under the signature of Under Secretary H P Baviskar, directed all authorities concerned to take necessary action immediately and ensure strict ...

Ajit Pawar aircraft crash: Flight lost balance, multiple blasts heard

According to media reports, a technical malfunction and poor visibility due to dense fog in the Baramati region led to the crash

Ajit Pawar dies at 66: How he shaped Maharashtra politics over the decades

Pawar's vision for development shaped Maharashtra's political and social landscape over the past three decades