Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash in Pune district earlier in the day. Describing Pawar as an able administrator and a consummate political organiser, Abdullah said his loss would be deeply felt across the political spectrum.
In a message posted on X, the Chief Minister recalled his long association with the senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, dating back to his college days in Mumbai. Abdullah said he had known Ajit Pawar closely during the period when he stayed with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his family at Varsha, the official residence of the Maharashtra Chief Minister.
“Shocked to hear about the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar Saab. I’ve known Ajit da since my days in college in Bombay when I stayed with Sharad Pawar Saab and his family at Varsha. Ajit da was an able administrator and a consummate political organiser whose loss will be greatly felt,” Abdullah wrote.
The Chief Minister also conveyed condolences on behalf of his family, saying he joined National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in extending sympathies to Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and other members of the bereaved family.
Ajit Pawar (66) was among five people killed when a private aircraft carrying them attempted an emergency landing at Baramati airfield in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The aircraft had taken off from Mumbai and was headed to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to address a public meeting ahead of the February 5 zilla parishad elections in Maharashtra.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across the country, with leaders from across party lines expressing grief over the sudden demise of one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures.
