'Sacrificed Everything...': What Ajit Pawar Said In His Last Facebook Post

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 12:49 IST

Barely hours before the plane crash, Ajit Pawar shared what would become his last post on Facebook, paying tribute to a freedom fighter. Here's what he wrote.

Ajit Pawar was active on social media till the final hours of his life. (PTI Photo)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and ist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died early Wednesday morning when the chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed during a landing attempt at Baramati Airport in Pune district. The plane crash claimed the lives of all five people on board, including the pilot and the members of his entourage, officials confirmed.

Ajit Pawar was active on social media till the final hours of his life. Barely hours before the crash, he shared what would become his last post on Facebook, paying tribute to freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on the occasion of his birth anniversary. In the post, Pawar wrote that Lajpat Rai had sacrificed everything for the country’s freedom and that his patriotism would continue to inspire generations.

Separately, Pawar had also made his final post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) late on Tuesday night, in which he spoke about a cabinet meeting and outlined key decisions taken by the government. He had accompanied the post with a photograph.

The Fatal Incident

Pawar, 66, was en route to his home constituency in Baramati to participate in election-related events for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections. His twin-engine Learjet 45 jet, registered VT-SSK, departed from Mumbai soon after 8 am on Wednesday and was attempting to land at Baramati at about 8:45 am when it crash-landed near the runway and burst into flames, according to the DGCA.

Eyewitness’ Accounts

A woman who witnessed the accident said the plane was seen circling the Baramati airstrip before the crash. “It was circling in the air and did not appear stable. As it attempted to land, it hit the ground with force and exploded. The sound was so loud that we could hear it from our house," she said, adding that debris from the aircraft was flung into the air and fell near her residence. “The plane tilted just before the crash. Seeing the explosion was terrifying," she added.

Another eyewitness said the aircraft seemed to lose control during its descent. “From the way it was coming down, we felt it would crash. It was around 100 feet above the runway. As we ran towards the site, we saw flames followed by four to five explosions, which forced us to stop," he told reporters, adding, “There was a massive fire. Later, we learnt that Ajit Pawar was on board. It was shocking."

PM Modi Expresses Condolence

The news has triggered shock and mourning across the political spectrum. Condolences have poured in from senior leaders and parties, and the Maharashtra government has announced official tributes and a period of mourning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also express his condolences, saying that Pawar’s death was sudden and deeply shocking. In a post on X, Modi described Pawar as a mass leader with strong grassroots connect, who was widely respected for his commitment to public service. “Shri Ajit Pawar Ji was a leader of the people, deeply connected at the grassroots. He was admired for his hard work and dedication to serving the people of Maharashtra. His understanding of administration and his commitment to the welfare of the poor and underprivileged were remarkable. His untimely demise is extremely shocking and saddening," he wrote.

Pawar was a towering figure in Maharashtra politics for more than four decades, known for his strategic acumen and influence across rural and urban constituencies. He had served multiple terms as deputy chief minister and was a key power-broker in the state’s governance.

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