Ajit Pawar's Funeral Rites to be Done with Full State Honours on Jan 29

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who tragically died in a chartered plane crash on Wednesday morning, will be accorded full state honours during his last rites, the Maharashtra General Administration Department (Protocol) confirmed.

Kiran, trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, stated that Pawar’s last rites are scheduled for 11 am on Thursday. “The mortal remains of Ajit Pawar will be placed at the Vidya Pratishthan ground today for the public to pay their respects. The cremation will take place tomorrow at 11 am,” Kiran told ANI.

Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections when the crash occurred around 8:48 am.

In the wake of his death, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a state holiday and three days of mourning across the state. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast on all government buildings, entertainment events will be suspended, and state offices will remain closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Addressing the media, Fadnavis described Pawar’s demise as a personal and statewide loss, recalling him as a “hardworking leader who never wavered in any circumstance” and lauding his significant contributions to Maharashtra’s development. “It is a difficult day for Maharashtra. Leadership of this calibre takes years to cultivate. His passing is shocking, and for me, it is a personal loss. A friend has left us,” Fadnavis said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences to Pawar’s family, speaking with his uncle, veteran politician Sharad Pawar.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have dispatched teams to investigate the crash.

Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, holding the post for six terms under various administrations, including those of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.

He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and two sons, Jay and Parth Pawar.