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 and a leader within India's Nationalist Congress Party. Pawar's death is newsworthy due to his prominent position in Maharashtra's government and the political vacuum his passing creates. On January 28, 2026, Pawar died in a plane crash along with two of his staff and two crew members. The charter aircraft crashed while en route to his home region, Baramati, where he was scheduled to campaign for local elections. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. His death has significant implications for Maharashtra's political landscape, given his influence and role as the second-highest elected official in the state.