Page 2 - Ajit Pawar

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

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