Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has expressed deep sorrow over the sudden passing of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The senior leader died on Wednesday morning following a tragic aircraft accident near Baramati. Tendulkar joined a long list of public figures offering condolences, describing the NCP chief as a leader who remained devoted to the state.
Shortly after the tragedy was confirmed, Tendulkar shared his grief through a social media post. He emphasized that the state has lost an administrator who worked tirelessly across various regions of Maharashtra.
अजित पवार यांच्या निधनाची बातमी ऐकून खूप दुःख झाले. महाराष्ट्रासाठी काम करणारा एक चांगला नेता आज आपण अचानक गमावला आहे. पवार कुटुंबियांच्या दुःखात मी सहभागी आहे. ईश्वर त्यांच्या आत्म्यास शांती देवो.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 28, 2026
भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली. ॐ शांती. 🙏🏽
Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of…
The fatal crash occurred while Ajit Pawar was traveling to Baramati for a series of public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections. He was aboard a chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 when the flight reportedly faced technical issues.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft attempted an emergency landing at Baramati airport. During a second attempt to touch down, the plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of all five people on board. The victims include the Deputy CM, two pilots, and two members of his security detail. Visuals from the location showed the wreckage completely consumed by fire, with emergency services responding to the thick smoke.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a thorough investigation into the crash to identify the exact cause of the technical failure. As the news spread, tributes poured in for the veteran politician. Ajit Pawar was a central figure in Maharashtra politics, and his loss is felt deeply across the political landscape and the public.
