Rohit Pawar to Unveil Detailed Presentation on Ajit Pawar's Fatal Air Crash
In a significant development, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar declared on Saturday that he will deliver a comprehensive presentation on February 10 concerning the tragic air crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The announcement came as he addressed persistent questions and doubts surrounding the circumstances of the incident, which will be thoroughly examined during the briefing scheduled to take place in Mumbai.
Unanswered Questions and Political Context
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in the Zilla Parishad elections held in Baramati, Rohit Pawar emphasized that numerous critical questions remain unresolved regarding how and why the fatal crash occurred. He assured that the forthcoming presentation would meticulously address these concerns, providing much-needed clarity. "Everyone has questions and doubts in their minds. Why the crash happened and how it might have happened—these issues will be raised on February 10," he stated firmly.
The Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Maharashtra, which were conducted on Saturday for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis, had previously been postponed following Ajit Pawar's untimely death in the air crash on January 28. The tragic incident involved a chartered Learjet aircraft that crashed while attempting to land at the table-top airstrip in Baramati, located in Pune district. Alongside Ajit Pawar, the crash resulted in the deaths of four others: his personal security officer, the pilot, co-pilot, and a flight attendant.
Political Unity and Conspiracy Allegations
Rohit Pawar also reflected on the late leader's aspirations for unity within the Nationalist Congress Party, noting that Ajit Pawar had sincerely wished for reconciliation between the rival factions. He affirmed that efforts toward a merger would continue, highlighting that the NCP (SP), led by Sharad Pawar, and the NCP have jointly contested the Zilla Parishad elections, with candidates campaigning under the latter's 'clock' symbol. "Ajit Dada sincerely wished that everyone should come together as one family. Everyone has come together today. Dada had made efforts, and we will continue to make efforts in the same manner. The family is still united," Rohit Pawar remarked.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stirred controversy by alleging that Ajit Pawar's death could be the result of a political conspiracy, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe. Citing reports that Pawar was considering leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party and rejoining the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar, Banerjee asserted, "I demand a proper investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. We have trust only in the Supreme Court. All other agencies have been completely compromised." She described Pawar's death as a major loss and indicated he was expected to return to the original faction of his party.
Upcoming Clarifications and Investigation Progress
The Opposition MLA, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency in Ahilyanagar district, further announced that he would explain the reasons and intent behind the proposed party merger on February 12. "I will explain why the merger was supposed to happen and for what purpose. Whether Ajit Dada's intention was political or emotional, I will clarify this on February 12," he added.
On the investigation front, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol provided an update, stating that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are making rapid progress. He confirmed that the aircraft's black box has been recovered and is currently under analysis. "The black box has been recovered, and the AAIB team and the DGCA are working on it. The data will be downloaded, followed by analysis and an inquiry. A preliminary report will be released after that," Mohol explained.
He detailed that investigation teams from the AAIB and the DGCA's Mumbai Regional Office reached the crash site on the day of the incident, with the AAIB Director General personally overseeing the initial probe. The investigation is being conducted under Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025, to determine the sequence of events during the aircraft's attempted landing amid reported poor visibility. Authorities have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, emphasizing that the findings will be based on technical analysis of the black box data.
