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Ajit Pawar cremated with full state honours as Baramati bids him a tearful farewell: ‘Never thought we’d see him like this’

Thousands of supporters turned up at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati on Thursday to pay respects to ‘Ajitdada’ Pawar.

Written by: Manoj Dattatrye More, Soham Shah

4 min readBaramatiUpdated: Jan 29, 2026 09:49 PM IST

Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the chartered aircraft he was in crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five on board

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours in his hometown, Baramati, on Wednesday, as thousands of supporters, their eyes brimming with tears, tried to catch one last glimpse of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader whose popularity cut across party lines.

As cries of “Amar Rahe Amar Rahe” rent the air, Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay, lit the funeral pyre at the Vidya Pratishthan ground around 12.15 pm. The body was brought to the ground past 10 am from his Katewadi home, where it was placed for Baramatikars to pay their last respects.

Baramati turned out in full strength. Shops, hotels, educational institutes, and business establishments remained closed in the city for the second consecutive day. As the day dawned, it seemed all city roads led to the Vidya Prathishthan ground as Ajit Pawar’s supporters, NCP leaders, and party workers turned up to pay respects to their ‘Ajitdada’, as he was fondly addressed.

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Among the mourners was Sudam Tambe, who had travelled all the way from Parbhani district. “Ajitdada always kept his word. He showed respect to even ordinary party workers. On January 27, he had asked me to come to Baramati for a meeting on January 28 or yesterday. However, that was not to be…I could not meet him for one last time. But I want to salute him. He cared for everyone, no matter how small or big he was,” Tamble told The Indian Express.

Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after the chartered aircraft he was in crashed at Baramati airport, killing all five on board. On Thursday, apart from his wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, his uncle, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, his cousin, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, and other family members, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, and MPCC chief Harshavardhan Sapkal were present at the funeral.

At the ground, every inch of the space seemed occupied by mourners. Some climbed trees to get a glimpse of the last rites, while others stood atop parked vehicles. From senior citizens who struggled to walk to students, hundreds kept streaming in since early morning. The police had to move in swiftly to keep the crowd away from getting too close to the funeral area.

By noon, when the last rites were being performed, the sloganeering—”Ekach Vaada, Ajitdada”, “Amar Rahe, Amar Rahe”, “Ajitdada, Amar Rahe” –reached a crescendo.

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Kavita Gadge, a resident of Baramati, said, “I had come yesterday as well. We are feeling like we have become zero. Everybody is quiet. He has done so much for children here; see the schools here.”

Asha Bhole, another Baramati resident, credited Ajit Pawar with the all-round development of the city. “I don’t think there is any city that can compare. I never met or interacted with him, but I have very high respect and regard for him. All my life, I will draw inspiration from his life and times,” she added.

Baba Dhobale, a teacher from Baramati, said Ajit Pawat was a leader who was admired by one and all. “Today, I am what I am because of Ajit Pawar. My family has been able to survive and grow all because of Ajitdada. He backed every person who came in contact with him. I came here to have a last glimpse of Ajitdada…I won’t be able to see the man who changed my fortunes,” he added.

“We never thought we would have to see him like this,” Rekha Gaikwad, a homemaker from Baramati, said. “Ajitdada was our breath, our inspiration. He changed the destiny of Baramati,” she added.

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Avdhoot Pawar, a student who came for the funeral along with his friends, described Ajit Pawar as the “pride of Maharashtra”. “I admired the disciplined life he lived. I emulated him in my life. I always dreamt of meeting him. But that dream has just…I will never be able to meet him again,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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