New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday declared three days of state mourning in honour of his deputy Ajit Pawar, referring to him as a “good friend” and a “great leader of the masses”. The veteran politician and four others lost their lives in a plane crash in Baramati earlier in the day.
Expressing his grief, Fadnavis told media persons: “The news has brought extreme sadness to Maharashtra. For all of us, to have lost such a great leader of the masses, is an irreparable loss.”
He further said: “Losing a leader like him is an unprecedented loss. In personal life, he was a good friend. We faced many challenges together. At a time when he was contributing to Maharashtra’s development, his untimely demise is a loss. We stand with his family…I have informed the PM and HM about the incident, and they have expressed sadness over it.”
“Now, when he was contributing to Maharashtra’s development in such a strong manner, when we had all thought that he would play a long innings, to have lost him at such a time, I have no words,” added the CM.
Talking about his own personal relationship with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, Fadnavis said Pawar had been a strong and large-hearted friend, with whom he had seen a lot of struggle. “This tragedy that has struck the family, and his political family, the Nationalist Congress Party, is indeed very difficult to bear. But we are all with them in these trying times.”
He added that he was leaving for Baramati with deputy CM Eknath Shinde. “When the Pawar family reaches Baramati, we will talk with them and determine the course ahead.”
The chartered aircraft Pawar was on—a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK)—crashed-landed with a total of five people on board. The aircraft was attempting a second approach to Baramati airport when it crashed, according to Flightradar24.
In a post on X, Fadnvis also extended his condolences to the families of the four others who have lost their lives.
The Maharashtra government has also announced a state holiday.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)