Mumbai’s political landscape was shaken to its core with the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The NCP leader’s untimely demise in a Baramati air disaster left the nation mourning, as his state funeral unfolded with full honors on Thursday.
Singer Rahul Vaidya, who shared a memorable final encounter with Pawar on December 6, 2025, took to Instagram to relive the moment. In a heartfelt post, Vaidya shared a video from the event where Pawar enthusiastically enjoyed the classic Rajesh Khanna number ‘O Mere Dil Ke Chain’ from the 1972 film ‘Mere Jeevan Saathi’. The video captures Pawar humming along as Vaidya performs the soulful track, originally sung by Kishore Kumar with music by R.D. Burman and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
‘On December 6, Ajit Dada kept requesting his favorite songs for nearly two hours straight. I never imagined it would be our last meeting. This sudden goodbye feels unreal and deeply personal. Ajit Dada Pawar left too soon; he’ll always be remembered. Rest in peace, Dada. Om Shanti,’ Vaidya wrote, his words resonating with fans and followers.
The crash on Wednesday involved a Learjet 45, registered VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures, killing Pawar, his security personnel, two pilots, and a female crew member. Maharashtra declared three days of state mourning, with flags at half-mast across government buildings.
Thousands gathered in Baramati for Pawar’s last rites, where his sons lit the funeral pyre. Prominent figures like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, and MNS leader Raj Thackeray paid their respects. Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi, and Kangana Ranaut expressed grief on social media.
Police filed an accidental death report, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau launched a probe. Pawar’s legacy as a towering political figure endures, now immortalized in that final, joyful musical moment.