Ajit Pawar funeral date and time: Six-time Deputy CM's last rites to be held with state honors

A profound silence has descended over the township of Baramati as the mortal remains of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar were brought to the local hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Following his tragic death in a Learjet 45 crash earlier today, the Maharashtra government has officially declared three days of state mourning and a public holiday to honor the veteran leader.

The focus now shifts to the final journey of the man affectionately known as "Dada." Here is the current situation regarding the funeral arrangements and the state’s response.

Ajit Pawar Funeral: The Final Journey with State Honors

The mortal remains of the late Deputy CM are being moved to the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where they will be kept for public darshan (viewing). This allows the thousands of supporters who have flooded the township to pay their last respects to "Ajit Dada" before the final rites. Vidya Pratishthan, an institution deeply associated with the Pawar family’s educational legacy, will serve as the site for this final public tribute. The final rites for Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar will be held with full state honors on Thursday at 11:00 AM. The ceremony will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, Pune.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to travel to Baramati to pay their respects. They will join leaders from across the political spectrum in a rare display of bipartisan mourning.

As per the government notification, the Tricolour will fly at half-mast on all official buildings across Maharashtra for the next three days as the state enters mourning pero. All state-sponsored entertainment programs and official functions have been canceled as a mark of respect for the leader who served as Deputy CM for a record six terms.

Ajit Pawar Death: Current Status of the Mortal Remains

A massive, emotional crowd has already gathered outside the Baramati hospital, where the bodies of the Deputy CM and the five other victims were moved following the crash-landing and subsequent inferno at Baramati airport. Security has been heavily tightened across the district to manage the influx of supporters traveling from across the state.

NCP working president Praful Patel, alongside Supriya Sule and the immediate family, have rushed from New Delhi to Baramati to oversee the hand-over of the remains.

The Immediate Political Aftermath

CM Fadnavis, visibly shaken during a press conference at his residence 'Varsha', described the loss as a "personal blow." Just 24 hours prior, Ajit Pawar had been active in Mumbai, attending a high-profile Cabinet Committee meeting on Infrastructure—the very meeting where the 'Gold Line' Metro was approved.

The chartered plane crashed shortly after taking off from Mumbai on Wednesday morning. Investigations into the cause of the sudden accident are ongoing. The crash claimed a total of five lives. Alongside Ajit Pawar, the victims included his Personal Security Officer (PSO), an personal attendant, and the two flight crew members (the Pilot in Command and the First Officer).

"Ajit Dada was a leader forged through struggle," Fadnavis remarked. "He enjoyed immense trust among ordinary people. This is an irreparable loss for the development of Maharashtra." Pawar is survived by his wife, Sunetra Pawar (Rajya Sabha MP), and his two sons, Parth and Jay Pawar. The family is currently at their Baramati residence receiving dignitaries.

(With agencies inputs)