At this moment, the Baramati township stood there and bid a tearful farewell to its most influential son, Ajit Pawar. Around noon, the mortal remains of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief were consigned to the flames at the Vidya Pratishthan Sports Ground, marking the end of a political era defined by their power over three decades.
The Final Journey: 'Ajit Dada Live Forever'
The day began with an impressive funeral service featuring a massive procession, with tens of thousands of supporters standing in the streets of Baramati. Tricolour Tribute: Wrapped in the National Flag, Pawar’s body was transported in a flower-decked hearse van from Katewadi, his home, to the funeral ground.
Emotional Crowds
Supporters from all over Maharashtra, many having traveled overnight, chanted slogans of “Only One Promise, Ajit Dada” and “Ajit Dada please come back” as the procession passed through the city.
VVIPs Pay Last Respects
Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed in Delhi for the crucial Budget Session, the central government's representatives were Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. State Leadership: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and the entire Maharashtra Cabinet were present on stage, laying wreaths on their colleague's pyre.
Pawar Family in Unity
In an iconic moment, the extended Pawar family stood together in grief, including NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, and nephews Rohit and Yugendra Pawar. The last rituals began with Ajit Pawar's sons, Parth and Jay.
The Final Rites
The funeral was conducted with full state honors, including a 21-gun salute and the Last Post sound by the Maharashtra Police Band. As the pyre was about to be lit, the leader's tricolour on the lid was ceremoniously handed over to his son Jay Pawar.
Investigation Update: Black Box Recovered
As the funeral concluded, a few kilometers away at the crash site, investigators confirmed a breakthrough. The Black Box (Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder) has been recovered from the wreckage of the Learjet 45. It is expected to provide crucial information on why the aircraft plunged into a "death spiral" on its second landing attempt at the Baramati airstrip.
For the next two days, Maharashtra will continue observing a period of state mourning, with flags at half-mast in all government buildings in respect of the man who served a record six times as the state's Deputy Chief Minister.
