Raj Thackeray calls Ajit Pawar a fearless, caste-free leader; says Maharashtra lost an exceptional administrator

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP Chief Ajit Pawar speaks during the party’s 'Rashtravadi Chintan Shibir', in Nagpur, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (PTI Photo)

• Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati during election campaign travel.
• Raj Thackeray praised Pawar's straightforward and caste-neutral politics.
• Maharashtra announced three days of mourning and a state holiday on Wednesday

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday paid an emotional tribute to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati.

In a detailed post on X, Thackeray described Pawar as a “remarkably straightforward” leader who was “utterly free of caste bias” and said Maharashtra politics had lost an outstanding administrator and mass leader.

माझे मित्र आणि राज्याचे उपमुख्यमंत्री अजित पवार यांचं निधन झालं. महाराष्ट्राच्या राजकारणाने एक उमदा नेता गमावला. अजित पवार यांचा आणि माझा राजकारणातला प्रवेश हा काहीसा एकाच काळातील, अर्थात आमचा परिचय हा बराच नंतरचा. पण राजकारणावर कमालीचं प्रेम या एका गुणावर अजित पवारांनी… pic.twitter.com/yIjUC255Af

— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 28, 2026

Recalling their political journeys, Thackeray said Ajit Pawar entered politics around the same time as him and went on to carve out an independent identity beyond the shadow of NCP founder Sharad Pawar. “On the strength of his passion for politics, Ajit Pawar took great strides and imprinted his identity across Maharashtra,” he wrote.

Thackeray said Pawar had a sharp understanding of the changing nature of politics during Maharashtra’s rapid urbanisation in the 1990s, particularly in semi-urban regions. He cited Pimpri-Chinchwad and Baramati as examples of Pawar’s administrative and developmental imprint, saying even his political opponents acknowledged his transformation of these regions.

Praising his administrative skills, the MNS chief said Pawar had an exact understanding of governance and knew how to resolve complex issues within the system. “In an era where administration must rise above politics, it is extremely tragic that Maharashtra has lost such a leader,” he said.

Thackeray also highlighted Pawar’s candour, saying he never misled people with false promises. “If something couldn’t be done, he said it clearly; if it could, he put his full energy into it. In politics, one pays a price for such straightforwardness,” he added.

Calling caste-neutral politics a rare quality today, Thackeray said Ajit Pawar stood out for completely rejecting caste considerations in public life.

Ajit Pawar was killed in a chartered aircraft crash near Baramati on Wednesday morning while travelling to campaign for Zilla Parishad elections. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have launched a probe into the crash.

The Maharashtra government announced three days of state mourning, with a state holiday declared on Wednesday. Pawar’s mortal remains will be kept at Vidya Pratishthan ground for public homage, and his last rites will be performed with full state honours on Thursday at 11 am.

Pawar, the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in non-consecutive terms, served under multiple chief ministers across political formations. He is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar, and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.

*With ANI inputs