Ajit Pawar Funeral Date, Venue Announced: State Funeral Tomorrow in Baramati; Maharashtra Observes Three-Day Mourning

Baramati, Maharashtra:
Maharashtra is observing a three-day state mourning following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who lost his life in a Learjet 45 aircraft crash near Baramati on Wednesday. The state government has confirmed that the final rites of the six-time Deputy CM will be conducted with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday.

A public holiday has been declared across Maharashtra as a mark of respect to the veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, whose sudden demise has left the political landscape and the state in deep grief.

Ajit Pawar Funeral Arrangements Finalised

According to official sources, Ajit Pawar’s mortal remains are being shifted from the Baramati hospital to the Vidya Pratishthan campus, where they will be kept for public darshan. The venue holds deep emotional significance for the Pawar family and will allow thousands of supporters, party workers, and citizens to pay their last respects to the leader fondly known as “Ajit Dada.”

The funeral will take place in Baramati on Thursday, with senior state leaders, cabinet ministers, and national political figures expected to attend.

Ajit Pawar’s brother, Shriniwas Pawar, said his son Yugendra is in the hospital at Baramati and that the last rites will be held in Baramati.

“It’s very sad moment for us. No one survived the crash. My son Yugendra (Pawar) is in the hospital at Baramati. We are all headed to Baramati. The last rites will be in Baramati,” Shriniwas said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are in constant coordination with the Pawar family, including Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar, to ensure that all arrangements for the last rites are carried out with dignity and protocol.

State Mourning Declared; Official Events Cancelled

As per the government notification, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings across the state for three days. All state-sponsored entertainment programmes, public celebrations, and official events have been cancelled during the mourning period.

Ajit Pawar had served Maharashtra as Deputy Chief Minister for a record six terms and was widely regarded for his administrative grip and decisive leadership.

Heavy Security, Emotional Scenes in Baramati

An overwhelming crowd of supporters has gathered outside the Baramati hospital since news of the crash broke. The mortal remains of Ajit Pawar and five other victims were brought there following the crash-landing and subsequent fire at Baramati airport.

Security arrangements across Baramati and nearby areas have been significantly tightened as thousands continue to arrive from different parts of the state.

NCP working president Praful Patel, MP Supriya Sule, and close family members rushed from New Delhi to Baramati to oversee the formal handover of the mortal remains.

Political Reactions and Immediate Aftermath

Addressing the media from his official residence ‘Varsha,’ Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Ajit Pawar’s death as a “personal loss,” recalling their recent interactions. Just a day before the incident, Pawar had attended a key Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure meeting in Mumbai, where the ambitious Gold Line Metro project received approval.

The sudden loss of one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures has cast a pall of silence over Baramati and triggered an outpouring of tributes from across party lines.