Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/pune-leopard-attacks-leopard-rescue-centres-planned-in-maharashtras-junnar-region-to-curb-attack-says-eknath-shinde-23615303" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Eknath Shinde</a> has decided not to celebrate his birthday on February 9 as a mark of tribute to the late NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash, an official release said on Friday.
In a statement issued by his office, Shinde said Maharashtra is still grieving and has not yet recovered from the shock of Ajit Pawar&rsquo;s untimely death.
Shinde also posted on his X handle stating that he will not celebrate his birthday this year.
He said that Ajit Pawar&rsquo;s passing was a personal loss, as he had lost not just a political colleague but also a close friend.
Shinde appealed to his supporters, party workers and well-wishers to refrain from organising any celebrations on his birthday.
He also urged them not to bring bouquets, flowers or gifts, and requested that no hoardings or banners be put up to greet him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
राज्याचे उपमुख्यमंत्री अजितदादा पवार यांच्या दुर्दैवी अपघाती निधनामुळे साऱ्या महाराष्ट्रावर दु:खाचा डोंगर कोसळला आहे. त्यामुळे यंदा ९ फेब्रुवारी रोजी मी वाढदिवस साजरा करणार नाही. या दिवशी कार्यकर्ते, पक्षनेते, पदाधिकारी आणि नागरिकांनी पुष्पगुच्छ, भेटी आणू नयेत, तसेच&hellip;
&mdash; Eknath Shinde - एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) <a href="https://twitter.com/mieknathshinde/status/2019700990170288381?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">February 6, 2026</a></blockquote>

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&ldquo;We share the grief of the Pawar family,&rdquo; Shinde said.
<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/ajit-pawar-death-ncp-sp-leader-anil-deshmukh-seeks-judicial-probe-in-baramati-plane-crash-incident-23615025" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Ajit Pawar</a>, who was serving as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, died along with four others when their aircraft crashed at Baramati in Pune district on January 28.
<h2>Will consider demand to rename Ladki Bahin scheme after Ajit Pawar</h2>
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis&nbsp;on Wednesday said that his government will consider the demand to rename the Ladki Bahin scheme after Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in Baramati.&nbsp;
Earlier on Tuesday, NCP MLC Amol Mitkari demanded that the government's flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for financial assistance to women be renamed after Pawar.
Speaking to the media in Haridwar, CM Fadnavis said, "There are several demands. We will sit together and think how to go about it," as cited by news agency PTI.&nbsp;
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28.
Mitkari had said Ajitdada (as Pawar was fondly called) was the favourite brother of women in the state.
He emphasised, "His wrist would be full of rakhis when he travelled across the state during his yatras." The state government would give a tribute to him if it named the scheme the Ajitdadanchi Ladki Bahin scheme (<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/ajit-pawar-death-remembering-the-leader-women-called-dada-for-his-empowerment-work-23614331?2011-sep-breakingnews" rel="nofollow">Ajitdada's Ladki Bahin scheme</a>)," as cited by news agency PTI.
<h2>Ladki Bahin Yojana was announced by Ajit Pawar</h2>
The Ladki Bahin scheme, announced by Pawar when he was the finance minister and started in July 2024, provides assistance of Rs 1,500 every month to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 65 through direct bank transfer.
The scheme is believed to have played a crucial role in the victory of the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/who-dada-really-was-memories-of-ajit-pawar-from-pune-pimpri-chinchwad-residents-23614155?button=next" rel="nofollow">BJP-led Mahayuti</a> in the 2024 assembly elections.
(With inputs from PTI)

Ajit Pawar death: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has decided not to celebrate his birthday on Feb 9 as a mark of tribute to the late NCP chief Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar death: Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde cancels his birthday celebrations on Feb 9 as mark of respect for late NCP chief

Cab and auto drivers to hold nationwide one-day strike on February 7

Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde has appealed to his supporters, party workers and well-wishers to refrain from organising any celebrations on his birthday

Ajit Pawar death: Shinde cancels his birthday celebrations on Feb 9

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