Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar was a veteran Indian politician and the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state. He was a key political figure, hailing from a prominent political family, and a leader within the Nationalist Congress Party. Pawar's death is newsworthy due to his influential position in Maharashtra's government and the political vacuum his sudden passing creates. On January 28, 2026, Pawar was killed in a plane crash along with two of his staff and two crew members. The charter aircraft crashed in his constituency of Baramati while he was en route to canvass for local elections. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. His death has significant implications for Maharashtra's political landscape.