In a heartfelt tribute, India’s badminton sensation PV Sindhu expressed profound grief over the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The two-time Olympic medalist shared her sorrow on social media, revealing a deep personal regret for never visiting Baramati despite multiple invitations from the late leader.
Ajit Pawar was en route from Mumbai to Baramati for a public rally amid district council and panchayat committee elections when the ill-fated aircraft crashed around 9 AM on Wednesday. The accident claimed the lives of the NCP leader and five others, including Captain Shambhavi Pathak, Captain Sumit Kapoor, Pinki Mali, and PSO Vidyip Jadhav.
‘Rest in peace, Ajit Dada. I had the privilege of meeting you several times, and each encounter left me inspired by your discipline, dedication to work, and love for your people,’ Sindhu posted on X. ‘You often urged me, “Come to my Baramati.” I kept thinking I’d find time someday. Never imagined I’d regret not going like this.’
Sindhu extended her condolences to the families of the deceased, praying for strength amid unimaginable loss. Pawar, a seven-time MLA from Baramati since 1991 with landslide victories each time, drew his political strength from Maharashtra’s cooperative sector.
Recently elected as president of the Maharashtra Olympic Association for 2025-29, Pawar had also chaired the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank for 16 years. His influence extended to sugar cooperatives and milk unions. Over decades, he held key ministerial portfolios like water resources, power, and rural development under four chief ministers: Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, and Uddhav Thackeray.
The sudden void left by Pawar reverberates through Maharashtra politics and sports circles, where his support for athletes like Sindhu was well-known. As tributes pour in, Sindhu’s words capture a personal bond cut short by tragedy, underscoring Pawar’s warmth beyond his political stature.