Baramati

Ajit Pawar, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state, died in a plane crash on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The charter aircraft crashed in Baramati, Pawar's constituency, while he was en route to canvass for local elections. Four others, including two of his staff and two crew members, also perished in the crash. Pawar, a veteran politician and key figure in Maharashtra's political landscape, served as the second-highest elected official in the state. His sudden death has created a political vacuum in Maharashtra. He was known for his influence and colorful personality. The crash occurred as the plane was coming in to land at the airport in Baramati.