Baramati Prepares for Final Farewell to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
The town of Baramati in Maharashtra is draped in grief as it prepares for the final rites of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which will be performed on Thursday morning. The funeral ceremony is scheduled to take place at the sports ground of Vidya Pratisthan in Baramati, commencing around 11 am.
High-Profile Attendance Expected
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are confirmed to attend the funeral, according to a senior police officer. The ceremony is expected to draw a significant gathering of political figures, with all state ministers and MLAs anticipated to be present to pay their last respects to the veteran leader.
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives
The nation was shocked on Wednesday morning when a private aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar crashed near the Baramati airstrip, approximately 100 kilometers from Pune. The tragic accident occurred at 8:44 am, claiming the lives of all five individuals on board. Alongside Ajit Pawar, the victims included two pilots, a flight attendant, and a personal security officer.
Last Respects and Procession Details
Following the accident, the mortal remains of Ajit Pawar were initially taken to Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Hospital in Baramati for formalities. They were subsequently moved to Vidya Pratisthan, where family members and numerous politicians gathered to offer their condolences.
Among those present were Ajit Pawar's sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, his cousin and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, along with other family members including Yugendra Pawar and Rohit Pawar. The gathering also included prominent political figures such as former Union minister Praful Patel, state minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Babasaheb Patil, and Neelam Gorhe.
On Wednesday night, the mortal remains were returned to the hospital. Officials have outlined that a small procession will be conducted on Thursday morning, with the remains expected to reach the sports ground by 10 am, preceding the funeral ceremony.
Political Leaders and Public Mourning
Earlier on Wednesday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the hospital to console Ajit Pawar's grieving family members. The depth of public sorrow was evident as approximately 10,000 people gathered around the hospital in the afternoon, raising emotional slogans of "Ekach wada Ajitdada, amar rahe amar rahe, Ajitdada amar rahe" (Long live Ajitdada).
Personal Tributes from the Community
Local residents shared heartfelt memories of the leader. Sandhya Kale from Baramati recounted, "Ajitdada was close to my family. He visited my home on several occasions and resolved all our problems, including my daughter's school admission."
Ajit Pawar's personal driver, Shyamrao Narayan Manave (71) from Baner, provided a poignant account. "We were at the Mumbai residence. Dada woke up around 6 am and called me and the other driver. He asked me to come to Pune where he was scheduled to address rallies in Baramati. He left home around 7:30 am," he recalled.
Manave, who had served Ajit Pawar since 1999, described him as "a man of his word" who always engaged in conversations on various topics. He shared a touching memory: "In 2013, my son got married in our hometown Satara, and Ajit Pawar attended as promised. He also visited my house in Baner." Overwhelmed with grief, Manave added, "After learning about the crash on Wednesday morning, I immediately drove to Baramati. I lost a piece of my heart today."
Enhanced Security Arrangements
In anticipation of the large gathering for the funeral, Pune rural police have mobilized additional manpower from Solapur, Pune city, and Satara police stations to ensure comprehensive bandobast (security arrangements) on Thursday.
The entire region remains in a state of mourning as it prepares to bid farewell to a leader who was deeply connected to his constituents and respected across political lines.
