'Immense grief, untimely loss': Tributes pour in for Ajit Pawar as political leaders mourn his death

POlitical leaders crossways company lines feature uttered offend and grief on Wednesday following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati, calling his passing a major loss to public life and Indian politics.Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the news of Ajit Pawar’s death had left him deeply distressed, describing the senior leader as a committed public servant who worked tirelessly for the people of Maharashtra for over three decades. In a message shared on social media, Shah said, “The way Ajit Pawar ji dedicated himself to the welfare of every section of society in Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades cannot be expressed in words. Whenever we met, he would engage in long discussions on numerous issues related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss not only for the NDA family but also for me. I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.” Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed her condolences, saying she stood with the Pawar family and Ajit Pawar’s supporters in their time of grief. “I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and his supporters. I have spoken to Ajit Pawar's wife and Supriya ji (Supriya Sule),” she said, as quoted by ANI. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also mourned Ajit Pawar’s death, calling it “unfortunate” and a huge personal and political loss. Speaking on the incident, Gadkari said, “Ajit Pawar's death is unfortunate. He was my close friend in politics, and we also had familial relations. His passing away is a huge loss. On behalf of the party, I pay my tributes to him.” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was deeply shocked and stunned by the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar and the other passengers in the crash. In her condolence message, Banerjee said, “The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his co-passengers have died in a disastrous plane crash at Baramati today morning, and I am feeling a deep sense of loss. My condolences to his family including his uncle Sharad Pawar ji, and late Ajitji's all friends and followers. The incident needs proper investigation.” Ajit Pawar’s sudden death has triggered an outpouring of grief from leaders across the political spectrum, underlining his long career in public life and his influence in Maharashtra politics.