Don’t Politicise Ajit Pawar’s Death, Sunetra Pawar Tells Opposition

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar on Thursday appealed to Opposition leaders to refrain from politicising the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash earlier this year.

Ajit Pawar and four others died when a plane crashed near Baramati airport in Pune district on January 28, 2026. Speaking to reporters, Sunetra said the loss had created an immense void in Maharashtra and that no one could fully understand the family’s grief.

“Who can understand the pain better than his mother, his children and me?” she said, urging political leaders to avoid turning the tragedy into a political issue.

Sunetra said the family and others concerned were seeking a concrete decision following the accident and that efforts were underway in that direction. She said she had already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had given an assurance in the state Assembly and was making efforts to fulfil it.

The Deputy Chief Minister also expressed faith in the law and the Constitution, saying investigating agencies were carrying out their responsibilities and should be given adequate time to complete their work.

She questioned whether repeated discussions in the media necessarily amounted to updates on the probe, suggesting that the continued focus could instead lead to a “media trial.”

Sunetra’s remarks came a day after NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule questioned the absence of an FIR in connection with Ajit Pawar’s death. Sule said the family had lost a prominent member and questioned why leaders of the NCP faction in government had not publicly demanded an FIR or a proper investigation.

The contrasting statements have brought renewed political focus on the investigation into the plane crash, even as the probe continues.