Baramati, 29 January. The last rites of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were performed with state honors on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishthan ground here.

Amid the presence of thousands of people, Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, completed the final rites. During this time, his wife Sunetra Pawar, uncle Sharad Pawar, sister Supriya Sule, and other family members were present.

Several prominent leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, participated in the funeral and paid tribute to the departed soul.

A large number of party workers from across Maharashtra had reached Baramati on this sorrowful occasion. During the final rituals, emotional slogans like “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” (Long Live Ajit Dada) and “Ajit Dada Parat Ya” (Ajit Dada Come Back) echoed at the crematorium.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Ajit Pawar had passed away on Wednesday morning when the plane carrying him and four others met with an accident. All the people on board died on the spot.

Following this tragic incident, the Maharashtra government has announced three days of state mourning across the state. Ajit Pawar was Maharashtra’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, having held the post six times under various governments.

Vidya Pratishthan ground

The Vidya Pratishthan ground is a prominent open-air venue in Baramati, Maharashtra, primarily known for hosting the annual Baramati Festival, a major cultural and agricultural event. The ground is part of the larger Vidya Pratishthan educational campus, an institution founded in the 1970s by veteran politician Sharad Pawar to promote education and rural development in the region. It serves as a central hub for large public gatherings, exhibitions, and political rallies, reflecting its role in the social and political life of western Maharashtra.

Baramati

Baramati is a city in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India, historically significant as a *jagir* (land grant) of the Peshwa rulers during the Maratha Empire. Today, it is a major agricultural and educational hub, known for the Vidya Pratishthan campus and as the hometown of prominent Indian politician Sharad Pawar.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state in western India, historically significant as the heart of the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. Today, it is India’s economic and industrial powerhouse, home to the bustling capital Mumbai, and features major cultural sites like the ancient rock-cut Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is a major political party in India, founded in 1999 by Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar after they left the Indian National Congress. It was established primarily on the ideological premise of upholding “Indian nationalism and democracy,” with a focus on secularism and federalism, and has been a significant force, particularly in the state of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the state legislature in Maharashtra, India, located in the capital city of Mumbai. It was established in 1960 following the reorganization of states along linguistic lines, which created the modern state of Maharashtra from the former Bombay State. The assembly conducts its sessions at the historic **Vidhan Bhavan** in the Nariman Point area, a building that serves as a central hub for the state’s democratic governance and lawmaking.

Goa

Goa is a state on India’s western coast, renowned for its beautiful beaches and unique blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures. Its history is deeply marked by over 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule, which began in 1510 and left a lasting legacy in its architecture, cuisine, and Catholic heritage. Today, it is a major tourist destination, celebrated for its vibrant festivals, historic churches (like those in Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and relaxed coastal atmosphere.

Maharashtra government

The Maharashtra government is the democratically elected administrative body of the Indian state of Maharashtra, formed on May 1, 1960, when the bilingual Bombay State was divided along linguistic lines into the Marathi-speaking Maharashtra and Gujarati-speaking Gujarat. Its history is rooted in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a major socio-political campaign that advocated for a separate state for Marathi people, with Mumbai (Bombay) as its capital. Today, it operates from Mumbai and Nagpur, governing one of India’s most economically significant and populous states.

state mourning

“State mourning” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a formal, public period of grief declared by a government following the death of a head of state or other significant national figure. It is a tradition with ancient roots, often involving flags flown at half-mast, the cancellation of public events, and citizens observing moments of silence to honor the deceased. This practice symbolizes national unity in loss and respect for leadership and service.