Jammu, January 28, 2026 : National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the tragic death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, saying that India has lost one of its great sons.
Terming the news heartbreaking, Abdullah said Ajit Pawar was a towering leader who worked tirelessly to change the destiny of Maharashtra through his commitment to public service and development.
“The news about Pawar’s death is heartbreaking. He was a great son of Maharashtra who sincerely tried to change the destiny of the state. His passing away in the plane crash has left me deeply saddened,” Abdullah told reporters in Jammu.
He said Pawar’s contributions to public life would never be forgotten, adding that his demise is not just a loss to Maharashtra but to the entire nation.
“Today, India has lost one of its great sons. No one has power over the will of Allah. He was on his way for election preparations, but fate did not favour him,” he said.
Abdullah expressed solidarity with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and the bereaved family, praying for eternal peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to bear the irreparable loss.
Ajit Pawar (66) and four others were killed when a private aircraft carrying them crashed while attempting an emergency landing near his hometown Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The senior Nationalist Congress Party leader was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address rallies ahead of the February 5 zilla parishad elections.
