‘Dada was like God here’: How Ajit Pawar death news froze Baramati - ‘Who will take care of us now?’

• Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati, causing widespread grief
• Baramati mourns Ajit Pawar; shops close, crowds gather to pay respects.
• Ajit Pawar's final rites will be held with full state honours in Baramati

Did our AI summary help?

Time seemed to freeze at 8.44 am on Wednesday for the people of Baramati. At that moment, news spread that Ajit Pawar, the town’s most loved political leader, had died in a tragic plane crash while on his way home.

Ajit Pawar was known as a strict follower of time and discipline. Ironically, he lost his life while trying to keep an appointment with his hometown. As word of the crash reached Baramati, the people of the taluka broke down in public, shop shutters came down, and the usually lively town slipped into silence and grief.

The final rites of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar will be held with full state honours at 11 am today in Baramati.

A town united in grief

Baramati has witnessed political divisions in recent years, especially after the split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The town backed Sharad Pawar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Ajit Pawar in the Assembly polls later that year. While votes may have been divided, affection for the Pawar family remained strong.

All political differences disappeared on Wednesday as grief brought everyone together. Roads were empty, markets were closed, and people gathered only to share their sorrow. “It feels like a family member has passed away,” said Aditya Wagh, an NCP worker.

The crash site

The area near the crash site, surrounded by green sugarcane fields and clear blue skies, was filled with pieces of the aircraft scattered across the ground, the tail, the engine, broken wires, a tyre, and papers strewn everywhere. Ajit Pawar was known to work even while travelling, and the sight of documents lying at the site made the tragedy even more painful for the people of Baramati.

Police personnel, forensic teams, and health officials reached the area quickly. Helicopters carrying VIPs landed one after another. Locals gathered in large numbers, hoping against hope that the news was not true.

“We saw smoke and chaos. Even after hearing Dada was on the plane, we kept praying. When it was confirmed, our hearts broke,” Anita Atole, who witnessed the crash, was quoted by TOI as saying.

‘Dada’ of Baramati

Back in the town, especially in Katewadi village where Ajit Pawar hailed from, homes were locked as people rushed to Baramati to pay their respects. Many said they had not eaten or slept since hearing the news.

For decades, Ajit Pawar had been the face of Baramati. Though Sharad Pawar laid the foundation of the constituency, many locals believe Ajit Pawar took it forward. Roads, schools, hospitals, and institutions transformed the taluka into a model town.

“He never cared about caste or religion. He helped everyone,” TOI quoted Shehbaz Bagwan, a young resident as saying. "Who will solve Baramati's problems from now on? He is irreplaceable. If Sharad Pawar made the foundation of Baramati strong, the building was built on it by Dada. Look at the roads, schools, hospitals… we have everything here that a city has."

Farmer Atul Khatmode recalled how Pawar personally ensured his pending work was cleared. “In Baramati, Dada is like God. If something was possible, he would say yes. If not, he would say no. He never misled people,” he said.

Tale of accessibility and discipline

Many residents spoke about Ajit Pawar’s simple approach and accessibility. Businessman Ashok Patil recalled being scolded for travelling to Mumbai to meet him. “He would say, ‘Why waste money when you can meet me in Baramati?’”

Schoolteacher Ganesh Jagtap described him as a man of discipline. “He disliked drinking, tobacco, and wrong behaviour. He valued cleanliness and punctuality. Nothing happened in Baramati without his knowledge.”

For most locals, Ajit Pawar was simply “Dada”. Aishwarya Nimgire said she left the utensils she was washing in the morning when the first talk of something happening to Dada began circulating. "Till then, I just knew it was an accident. Then came the message that he was no more, and our world crashed." She later brought her two-year-old son to Vidya Pratishthan grounds. When asked who he came to see, the child replied, “Dada.”

Final farewell amid chants and tears

Large crowds gathered at Punya Shlok Ahilya Devi Hospital, where the victims were taken. Slogans like “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” echoed through the premises. By evening, his body was brought to Vidya Pratishthan in a white ambulance decorated with garlands.

As his sons Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar accompanied the body, people climbed trees and barricades just to catch one last glimpse while police struggled to manage the emotional crowd.