Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and one of Maharashtra’s most influential power centres, passed away in a plane accident on January 28, 2026.

Early life and entry into politics through cooperative movement

Born on July 22, 1959, Pawar began his political career through the cooperative movement, particularly sugar factories and cooperative banks in western Maharashtra. He was the nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar.