IANS Photo
New Delhi, January 28 (IANS): Political leaders cutting across party lines, from the BJP to the Congress, expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar, describing his sudden demise as "devastating and highly distressing".
Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy expressed shock and grief over the incident said, “The news of Ajit Pawar’s air crash is extremely shocking for all of us. It is very sad and unfortunate. In such weather conditions, pilots have to be extremely careful. I offer my condolences and pray that God gives strength to the bereaved family members to overcome this shock."
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut recalled his long association with Ajit Pawar and Pawar family.
“We have known Ajit Pawar for many years. He was an excellent leader—generous, sincere, and straightforward. There was no deceit in him; whatever he felt, he spoke openly and then moved on. He was always cheerful and a true leader of workers,” Raut said.
“Uddhav Thackeray often said that among all ministers, Ajit Pawar was the most experienced and dedicated. He always had a clear vision for the development of Maharashtra. We have lost a leader of great calibre. Those in power today should learn from his approach. Politics should not be rushed, and excessive competition harms governance. Grassroots elections should be left to party workers. The current chaos in Maharashtra politics and relentless political manoeuvring has led to unfortunate outcomes,” Raut remarked.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar termed the incident tragic and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
“This is a tragic incident. We pray to God to give strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss. In this time of grief, the Bharatiya Samaj Party and I stand with the family,” he said.
Congress MP Imran Masood expressed grief, stating, “When the news of the plane crash first came in this morning, there was hope that perhaps he had survived. However, later, when videos emerged, it caused immense distress. He was a very energetic and dynamic leader, and this loss is extremely painful,” Masood said.
Odisha’s Deputy Leader of Opposition, Prasanna Acharya, said the news was unexpected and heartbreaking. “Ajit Pawar was not just a leader of Maharashtra but a nationally recognised political figure. He played a crucial role in shaping Maharashtra’s political development and had a strong presence in the country’s political landscape. His demise is a major loss for Maharashtra and a significant setback for Indian politics as a whole,” Acharya stated.
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N. K. Premachandran described the incident as shocking and unfortunate.
“It is really distressing to hear about such a plane crash in which the Deputy Chief Minister and his team of officers were reportedly travelling. Let the official report come first, and then all issues can be addressed accordingly,” he said.
Senior advocate and former MP Majeed Memon also expressed deep anguish over the incident.
“The news of the plane crash and the death of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with others, is devastating. Ajit Pawar was a proactive and dynamic leader. Despite facing criticism for parting ways with the main party, he remained decisive and served Maharashtra effectively as Deputy Chief Minister,” Memon said.
Recalling his long association with Ajit Pawar, Memon added, “I worked with Ajit Pawar for nearly 25 to 30 years, including closely for about two decades since 2002. He was a unique politician—aggressive, dynamic, and steadfast in his beliefs. While he faced allegations related to breaking away from the NCP and disagreements within the party, he always stood firmly by his convictions.”
