Indian politician Ajit Pawar, the veteran deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state in western India, has been killed in a private plane crash, in an incident that has drawn wide attention across the country and beyond.
According to Indian media citing local officials, the aircraft was carrying Pawar and several members of his entourage when it went down shortly after take‑off, killing all or most of those on board, while search and rescue operations continued at the crash site.
Authorities have opened an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the crash, with early speculation linking it to a possible technical failure or adverse weather conditions, pending a final report from India’s civil aviation regulator.
Ajit Pawar was considered one of the most prominent political figures in Maharashtra, having served multiple times as deputy chief minister in coalition governments and held key ministerial portfolios, including finance and irrigation, over the course of his career.
He was known for his influential role in state‑level politics, particularly in shaping and managing alliances among regional parties, and had long been regarded as a central figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
