Ajit Pawar laid to rest with state honours; Wife Sunetra, sons perform last rites in Baramati

Baramati (Maharashtra): The last rites of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar formally entered their final stage on Thursday morning in Baramati, with the main cremation ceremony underway at the Vidya Pratishthan ground after preliminary rituals earlier in the day.

Pawar, 66, died on January 28 in a tragic chartered plane crash near Baramati that killed all five people on board, plunging Maharashtra into deep mourning.

Mortal Remains Brought to Funeral Ground Draped in Tricolour

Ajit Pawar’s mortal remains, draped in the national Tricolour, were brought to the Vidya Pratishthan ground amid solemn scenes and chants from thousands of supporters.

The Tricolour-draped body symbolised the full state honours accorded to the veteran leader, who served multiple terms as deputy chief minister and remained a central figure in Maharashtra politics for decades.

Earlier in the morning, the mortal remains were taken to Pawar’s Katewadi residence, where family members, party workers, and close aides gathered to pay their last respects.

From there, the cortege moved through parts of Baramati, allowing the public to bid farewell. People lined the streets, showering flower petals and folding hands as the hearse passed by, reflecting Pawar’s deep-rooted connection with the region.

Drone visuals from the Vidya Pratishthan ground captured the scale of mourning, with thousands of people filling the premises, many holding party flags, photographs, and garlands, as the town stood still in grief.

Family Members Pay Final Respects; Sons Perform Last Rites

At the funeral ground, family members bid an emotional final farewell. Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, paid her last respects to her husband, standing alongside close family members in a moment heavy with grief.

NCP–SCP leader Supriya Sule was seen standing with and consoling Sunetra Pawar as the rituals progressed, underlining the personal loss felt within the Pawar family.

In one of the most poignant moments of the ceremony, Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, performed the final rites rituals of their father. The sight of the sons carrying out the last rites amid state honours moved many in attendance, as chants gave way to silence during the solemn rituals.

Political Heavyweights Gather to Pay Tribute

The funeral drew leaders from across the political spectrum, reflecting Ajit Pawar’s stature in national and state politics. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrived at the Vidya Pratishthan ground to attend the last rites. 

Senior leaders from the NCP, BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, and other parties were present, along with MLAs, MPs, and party workers. Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had arrived at the venue to attend the last rites of his nephew, marking an emotionally charged moment for the family and the party.

Security was significantly tightened in and around Baramati, with traffic diversions and crowd-control measures put in place to manage the unprecedented turnout.

State Mourning and Ongoing Probe Into Plane Crash

The Maharashtra government has announced a three-day state mourning, with flags flying at half-mast across government buildings. Ajit Pawar’s sudden death has left a major political vacuum, particularly in Baramati, his stronghold and political karmabhoomi.

Meanwhile, investigations into the plane crash are ongoing. Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station and initiated further inquiry into the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.

In a related tragedy, the last rites of Vidip Dilip Jadhav, Ajit Pawar’s personal security officer (PSO), were performed on Wednesday night in his native village in Satara. In a heart-rending scene, Jadhav’s young son lit the funeral pyre.

Neighbours and residents have urged the government to provide compensation to his family and demanded a thorough investigation into the crash.

A Political Chapter Draws to a Close

As the flames rose at the Vidya Pratishthan ground and chants of farewell echoed across Baramati, Maharashtra bid goodbye to one of its most formidable political figures.

Ajit Pawar’s last rites, marked by state honours, mass public participation, and the presence of the nation’s top leadership, underscored the scale of his influence — and the void his death leaves behind.

The ceremony marks not just the end of a life, but the closing of a powerful chapter in Maharashtra’s political history.