Page 2 - Ajit Pawar

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

Maharashtra Dy CM Pawar dies in plane crash; PM condoles untimely demise

Pawar was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections

Maha civic polls: Fadnavis takes dig at Ajit Pawar over corruption claims

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday took a veiled dig at his deputy Ajit Pawar by claiming opponents were venting out their frustration and anger due to the development work done by the BJP. They are trying to divert focus from development to issues that create unnecessary debate and disputes since they have nothing to show by way of work, Fadnavis said at a rally in Pimpri Chinchwad, where polls are scheduled for January 15. Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party is part of the BJP-led Mahayuti but the two parties are fighting the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls separately. In a series of press conferences, the Deputy CM has claimed that irregularities and corruption had curtailed the development of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The BJP ruled the two civic bodies between 2017 and 2022 before the state government appointed administrators. BJP's Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge had hit back at Pawar, leading to a war of words between the two Mahayuti allies. Pacifying .

Civic polls: NCP blocs release joint manifesto; Ajit Pawar, Sule share dais

The NCP, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and the NCP (SP), headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar, on Saturday released a joint manifesto for the upcoming elections to the Pune municipal corporation. Ajit Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule, the working president of NCP (SP), shared the dais at a joint press conference, signalling growing proximity between the two factions after a bitter split in 2023. The NCP, although a member of the ruling Mahayuti, and NCP (SP), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, have joined hands for the January 15 elections to Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies. Sule and other NCP (SP) leaders, who had largely remained absent from the campaign so far, were present at the release of the manifesto. Addressing the gathering, Ajit Pawar said the manifesto focuses on key civic issues in Pune. The poll document assures tap water supply, easing of traffic congestion, pothole-free roads, cleanliness, hi-tech healthcare services, ...

BJP tells Ajit Pawar to introspect before levelling corruption allegations

Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan on Saturday said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar should "introspect", after he alleged corruption and debt in the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body, which had been ruled by the BJP. If the Bharatiya Janata Party starts making allegations, it would create serious difficulties for him (Pawar), Chavan said, and advised the NCP chief to "introspect" before levelling allegations. The NCP, headed by Pawar, is an ally of the BJP in the ruling Mahayuti dispensation. Chavan was responding to Pawar's allegations that the civic body has been infested with corruption for the last nine years and has been pushed into debt over the same period. Notably, the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation was governed by the BJP from 2017 to 2022 and thereafter by a state-appointed administrator. The civic body is going to the polls on January 15, along with 28 other municipal corporations. "Ajit Pawar made this statement in the backdrop of the upcoming elections. Aji

NCP also in talks with Shiv Sena over seats in Pune civic polls: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said that his NCP is in talks with the Shiv Sena, led by his peer Eknath Shinde, over seat sharing for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls. He was speaking to reporters after paying tribute at the Jay Stambh' (victory pillar) near Pune on the 208th anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle. Pawar said that although they are in touch with Shiv Sena over seats, the picture will be clearer after the scrutiny of nomination papers and withdrawals by candidates. Earlier, the party had said that it had tied up with Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) for the two municipal corporations. NCP and Shiv Sena are constituents of the ruling Mahayuti, along with the BJP, while the NCP (SP) belongs to the Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi. However, in this year's civic polls, state-level alliances have blurred with parties joining hands with rival camps in several cities. The nomination process for the January 15 polls began on December 23 and ended on

Ajit Pawar announces NCP reunion with Sharad Pawar faction for civic polls

Ajit Pawar announced that the NCP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) will contest the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls together, calling it a moment of family unity; seat-sharing details will be announced late

No official proposal for alliance with Ajit Pawar camp yet: Supriya Sule

There has been no official proposal of an alliance between her party and the faction led by Ajit Pawar for the civic elections in Pune, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said on Tuesday, even as veteran leader Ankush Kakade stated that they have in principle decided to join hands. A meeting of the NCP and NCP (SP) took place here earlier in the day, said Kakade, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led party. "Three leaders from each side including me took part in the meeting. (City NCP(SP) chief) Prashant Jagtap was not there as he has gone to Mumbai for some work. A detailed discussion took place and it was in principle decided that we will jointly contest the civic polls in Pune, but we will be talking to our other colleagues in the evening," he told reporters. They will speak to Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress about taking along the Ajit Pawar-led NCP (which is part of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra), Kakade said, adding that they were keen on

Land deal: Officials should have rejected wrong documents, says Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said officials responsible for registering documents should have refused to process agreements that were not permissible under the law and clearly informed the parties concerned about such limitations. His comments come against the backdrop of a notice issued by the deputy registrar to the firm of his son, Parth Pawar, seeking Rs 21 crore in stamp duty and penalties in connection with a controversial land deal in Pune. Recently, the Bombay High Court raised sharp questions regarding the police probe into the land deal, suggesting authorities might be shielding Parth Pawar by failing to name him in the FIR. Ajit Pawar sought to dispel perceptions stemming from a bill cleared by the legislative assembly on Friday, which empowers the revenue minister to hold hearings in contentious cases related to the IGR. Pawar said those who registered such documents were at fault, and officials should have exercised due diligence at the time

Maharashtra makes housing society consent mandatory for liquor shops

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said that shops selling Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) as well as country liquor will be required to obtain mandatory consent from registered housing societies before commencing operations from the commercial spaces on their premises. Pawar, who also heads the excise department, directed that this new policy be implemented across the state. "Permission from registered housing societies will now be compulsory for both categories of liquor shops. The policy must be enforced uniformly throughout Maharashtra," Pawar told the Lower House of the state legislature while responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Shankar Jagtap, who represents the Chinchwad assembly constituency in Pune district. Jagtap sought cancellation of licences of liquor shops operating in Chinchwad-Kalewadi area of Pune. During the discussion, he said that Vikrant Wine, a liquor shop in Sahyadri Society, had begun operations in violation of norms. The ..

I owe no debt despite allegations: Ajit Pawar on 'vote for funds' remark

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday defended his controversial "vote for funds" remark, asserting that despite decades of allegations, he owes "no debt to anyone". Addressing a public rally at Jintur in Parbhani district ahead of the December 2 local body polls, the NCP leader acknowledged the intense media scrutiny over his remarks, noting that any issue is quickly linked to him. He stressed his respect for the Model Code of Conduct, and admitted that mistakes can occur in public work. During campaigning on Friday for elections to the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat in Baramati tehsil of Pune district, Pawar said he will ensure there is no shortage of funds for the town if they elect his party's candidates, but if they reject them, he will also "reject". The Opposition had criticised Pawar and demanded an apology from him. Addressing the controversy, the deputy CM on Monday said, "The media is watching me and monitoring my words about the funds. If anything happens, t

Action in Pune land deal case as per law; won't save anybody: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that action in the Pune land deal case, involving a company linked to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar, is being taken as per the law and there is no question of saving anybody. "FIRs have been filed against signatories and vendors, and those found guilty in the probe will be booked. Action is being taken as per the law," Fadnavis told reporters in Gadchiroli. The controversy pertains to the alleged illegal sale of 40 acres of government land in Pune's Mundhwa area, reportedly worth around Rs 1,800 crore, which Opposition leaders claim was purchased by a company linked to Parth Pawar for Rs 300 crore with a stamp duty waiver. On Friday evening, Ajit Pawar informed about the cancellation of the deal and stated that Parth was unaware that the land belonged to the government. The 7 per cent stamp duty for the Rs 300 crore deal comes to Rs 21 crore. After Ajit Pawar's announcement, it has emerged that Amadea Enterpris

Land deal row: Parth Pawar's firm must pay double duty to cancel sale deed

After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's announcement that the sale deed executed by his son Parth Pawar's firm for a prime land in Pune has been cancelled, it has come to light that Amadea Enterprises LLP will now have to pay double stamp duty, which comes to Rs 42 crore, for cancellation. The Department of Registration and Stamps has informed Digvijay Amarsinh Patil, the cousin of Parth Pawar and a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP, that the firm must pay the earlier 7 per cent stamp duty (5 per cent under the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1 percent Local Body Tax and 1 percent Metro Cess), as it had sought an exemption by claiming a data centre was proposed on the land. It must also pay an additional 7 per cent stamp duty to execute the cancellation deed, officials from the department said. According to the department, the firm had claimed a stamp duty exemption at the time of the sale deed by stating that a data centre would be set up on the land. But the cancellation deed

After probe order, Ajit Pawar says Parth's Pune land deal stands cancelled

The deal in question came under the scanner on Thursday, following which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that a probe had been ordered into the matter