Ajit Pawar’s sons perform last rites in Baramati; leaders pay tribute

The sons of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Parth and Jay Pawar, performed his last rites on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, his hometown and political stronghold. The final rites were conducted amid emotional scenes as thousands of supporters, party workers and residents gathered to bid farewell to the veteran leader.Several senior political leaders cutting across party lines were present to pay their last respects. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP president Nitin Nabin attended the funeral. Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule were also among those who arrived in Baramati to offer condolences.

#WATCH | Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's sons, Parth and Jay, perform the last rites rituals of their father, in Baramati pic.twitter.com/ahESsl7i8a

— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2026

Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar was accorded full state honours ahead of the funeral rites in the presence of his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons. The ceremonial guard of honour was given as senior leaders and family members stood by, marking the state’s tribute to one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures.
Baramati witnessed a massive turnout since early morning, with supporters and Nationalist Congress Party workers assembling in large numbers across the town. Many gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Hospital, where Pawar’s body was kept before being moved to his residence and later to the funeral ground as part of a public procession through the town he represented for decades.Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar died on Wednesday after the aircraft he was travelling in crashed at Baramati airport. He was on his way to attend a public meeting linked to the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections when the accident occurred. The sudden demise has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political circles and triggered an outpouring of grief from leaders across the country.The Maharashtra government announced state mourning following Pawar’s death, with flags flown at half-mast and official events curtailed. Widely regarded as a formidable mass leader and a key force in state politics, Pawar’s passing has left a significant void in Maharashtra’s political landscape.