Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: 3-Day Mourning Period Across State; Accident To Be Probed

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, January 28, announced three days of state mourning following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier in the day.

The Government of Maharashtra said the three-day mourning period would be observed from January 28 to January 30, 2026, as a mark of respect for Pawar’s life and contributions.

During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official entertainment programmes will be organised.

मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांनी आपले सर्व कार्यक्रम रद्द केले असून ते आणि उपमुख्यमंत्री एकनाथ शिंदे दोघेही थोड्याच वेळात बारामतीसाठी रवाना होत आहेत. राज्यात आज शासकीय सुटी जाहीर करण्यात आली असून तीन दिवसांचा दुखवटा जाहीर करण्यात आला आहे.— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 28, 2026

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the tragic aircraft accident that claimed Pawar’s life would be thoroughly probed.

The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom across Maharashtra, with tributes pouring in from political, social and administrative circles.

Fadnavis said a “wave of sorrow” had spread across the state, remembering Pawar as a determined and hardworking leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s development. Calling the tragedy a personal loss, he said, “Ajit Dada never wavered under any circumstances. It takes years to build such leadership. His demise is shocking, and for me, it is the loss of a close friend. It is also a huge loss for his family.”

दादा गेले!
जमिनीशी घट्ट नाळ असलेले जननेते, माझे मित्र आणि सहकारी, उपमुख्यमंत्री अजितदादा पवार यांचा विमान अपघातात मृत्यू झाल्याची घटना मनाला अत्यंत व्यथित करणारी आहे. मनाला चटका लावणारी आहे. मन सुन्न झाले आहे. भावना व्यक्त करण्यासाठी माझ्याकडे शब्द नाहीत.
माझा दमदार आणि दिलदार…— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 28, 2026

Expressing his profound grief over the death of his fellow Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Shinde said: "Today, I feel as though I have lost my elder brother. Ajit Pawar was not just a leader; he was a knowledgeable personality who valued time and had a strong grip over administration.”

Recalling their long association, Shinde lauded Pawar’s contribution to public life, noting that they had served together in different cabinets. He also recalled that Pawar was his deputy when he headed the Maharashtra government between 2022 and 2024.

"We worked together for many years. He would begin work at the crack of dawn—I have personally seen him issuing instructions as early as six in the morning. He spoke only after thoroughly studying every issue. Though blunt by nature, at heart he was extremely pure," Shinde said.

आज महाराष्ट्रावर दुःखाचा डोंगर कोसळला आहे. अत्यंत वेदनादायी, धक्कादायक दिवस आहे. महाराष्ट्राचे उपमुख्यमंत्री अजित पवार यांच्या निधनाचा धक्का संपूर्ण महाराष्ट्रासाठी आणि वैयक्तिक माझ्यासाठी प्रचंड मोठा आहे. एक दिलखुलास मनमिळावू, कर्तृत्ववान, अभ्यासू आणि रोखठोक नेता आपण आज गमावला.… pic.twitter.com/91gKHfI4be— Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) January 28, 2026

He added that Pawar's role during cabinet discussions, especially on the state’s financial condition, was marked by realism and clarity. "He always presented the ground reality and suggested the right course. His experience, depth of study and command over administration were guiding lights for all of us," Shinde noted.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he had met Pawar just a day or two earlier at a programme, making the loss even more difficult to accept. "This loss is not just of the Pawar family but of the entire state. I am feeling as if I have lost my elder brother," he said, paying heartfelt tributes.