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Sunetra Pawar and her sons Parth and Jay bid an emotional farewell to Ajit Pawar at his state funeral in Baramati, offering water and flowers before performing the last rites.
Sunetra Pawar looks on during Ajit Pawar’s funeral (L)/ Parth Pawar, right, and Jay Pawar, left, perform rituals (R) (Photo: PTI)
A grief-stricken Baramati on Thursday watched in silence as Sunetra Pawar and her two sons, Parth and Jay, bid an emotional final goodbye to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash a day earlier.
The family gathered around his pyre at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where full state honours were accorded before the last rites were performed amid chants, tears and folded hands from thousands of mourners.
In visuals from the last rites, Sunetra Pawar, herself a Rajya Sabha MP, was seen standing close to the body of her husband, her eyes moist as she gently offered water and showered flowers before the cremation rituals began.
Parth and Jay, visibly shaken, followed the priests’ instructions, performing the rites as relatives and supporters looked on.
Supporters lining the route of the funeral procession raised slogans of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” as Pawar’s body was brought to the ground.
Several were seen wiping their eyes, some clasping photographs and party flags, others joining hands in prayer as petals rained down on the flower-decked vehicle carrying the remains.
Senior leaders from across parties arrived to pay respects.
Earlier in the day, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and forensic teams reached the crash site in Baramati to investigate Wednesday morning’s accident that claimed Pawar’s life along with five others.
National Disaster Response Force personnel, senior police officers and the Maharashtra Director General of Police were also present as part of the probe.
The Pune Rural Police registered an Accidental Death Report at Baramati Taluka Police Station.
“Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station in connection with the air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life. Further investigation initiated,” a police official said.
Union Minister Raksha Khadse described the incident as “heart-rending,” saying Maharashtra would not see another leader like him. She recalled Pawar’s work in the interiors of the state and his role in its development while speaking to reporters in Baramati.
Supporters had earlier gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Government Medical College as Pawar’s body was taken out for the procession, which passed through the city before culminating at the Vidya Pratishthan ground for the cremation scheduled at 11 am.
Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar had been travelling to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections when the aircraft crash-landed at the local airport.
Born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara of Ahmednagar district, he was widely known for his grassroots connect and long political career, which included six non-consecutive terms as Deputy Chief Minister across multiple governments.
January 29, 2026, 11:59 IST
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