Pune: Ajit Pawar’s Funeral Tomorrow in Baramati With Full State Honours; Antyadarshan Underway Today
Baramati, 28th January 2026: The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP National President Ajit Pawar will be performed with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday, January 29, as thousands of supporters, party workers and citizens prepare to bid farewell to one of the state’s most influential leaders.
Public viewing (antyadarshan) of Pawar’s mortal remains began at 4:00 pm on Wednesday at Vidya Pratishthan Ground, Baramati. The funeral procession (antyayatra) will start at 9:00 am on Thursday from Gadima Sabhagruh (Auditorium), followed by the final rites at 11:00 am at Vidya Pratishthan Ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state ministers, senior central ministers, and top political leaders from across the country are expected to attend.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died earlier on Wednesday in a tragic plane crash near Baramati Airport. The chartered Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK), carrying Pawar and four others, crashed around 8:44 am while attempting a second landing after poor visibility forced a go-around. The aircraft burst into flames on impact and all five onboard were killed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed.
Those who died along with Pawar include his security officer Vidip Jadhav, cabin crew member Pinky Mali (29), Captain Sumit Kapoor and Captain Shambhavi Pathak. The crash site near the runway threshold was engulfed in fire and explosions, leaving no chance for rescue.
Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati after attending a cabinet meeting. He was heading to his political stronghold to campaign for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
A veteran leader and nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar was known for his strong grassroots connect and focus on irrigation, rural development and infrastructure in Baramati. He had served as Deputy Chief Minister multiple times and led the NCP faction recognised by the Election Commission in 2024.
The tragedy has triggered an outpouring of grief across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Pawar’s death “shocking and saddening,” while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was in “shock and disbelief” over the loss of a close colleague and friend.
The Maharashtra government has declared three days of state mourning from January 28 to 30. The national flag will fly at half-mast across the state and no official entertainment programmes will be held.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a probe into the crash to determine the exact cause.
Large crowds are expected in Baramati as Maharashtra prepares to bid a final farewell to Ajit Pawar, a leader who shaped the region’s politics for decades.
