Sharad Pawar rules out conspiracy in Ajit's death, other leaders describe him as capable administrator and tough taskmaster

5 minutes of readingbaramatiJanuary 29, 2026 12:24 am IST

EVEN as political leaders of all parties mourned the demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his uncle and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar ruled out any conspiracy, calling it a “pure accident”.

“There is no conspiracy involved. It was purely an accident. Some incidents have no politics behind them. I have clearly stated my stand… Ajit Pawar’s death is a big loss for Maharashtra,” Sharad Pawar said while landing in Baramati from Delhi along with Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, his daughter Supriya Sule and Parth Pawar.

Sharad Pawar claimed that the “loss” can never be compensated and said, “With the death of Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra has lost a great personality. This loss can never be compensated… Everything is not in our hands. I feel helpless. We will have to bear this loss forever.”

Pawar’s reaction came after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into Ajit Pawar’s death. Even Congress backed their demand. “A sight came from Calcutta that there was some politics involved in the incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. “I ask everyone not to bring politics into this,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir also demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. “All aspects of the accident must be investigated in detail to find out the exact cause of the accident,” Ahir said.

CPN (SP) chief executive Supriya Sule, who was insolvent when she arrived in Baramati, posted a one-word message on WhatsApp: “Devastated”. Ajit Pawar’s nephew Yugendra Pawar, who had fought against him in the 2025 Assembly elections, was also inconsolable while handling the cremation arrangements.

Condolence on the death of Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Devendra Fadnavis He said the death of his friend and colleague is distressing. “It’s heartbreaking. My heart is numb. I have no words to express my feelings… I have lost a friend, a colleague and a grassroots leader. It is an irreparable loss and a difficult day for Maharashtra…”

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Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde He described Ajit Pawar as his elder brother. “Ajit Pawar had a strong grip on the administration. He had a strong sense of time. He would start his work early in the morning. I personally saw him giving orders at 6 in the morning. In cabinet meetings, he would present a realistic picture and suggest the direction… He was direct by nature, but deep down he was extremely pure.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “We were praying that Ajit Pawar would emerge unscathed from the mishap. Unfortunately, it did not turn out that way. Without Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra politics will lose its sting. He was a big-hearted person, someone greatly admired by his party workers. Ajit Pawar’s death has shaken Maharashtra. His working style, his grip on the administration and his way of speaking… all this will remain in “Our memory forever.” He executed the development with great effort and concentration. His death occurred in Baramati with whom he had a close relationship.”

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil said, “Ajit Pawar was a strong supporter for us, socially and politically. It is difficult to believe that he has died. I don’t know how to react. Some people told me that the news about his death is true, but I still find it difficult to believe. It is a big setback for Maharashtra. This loss will never be compensated. Ajit Pawar was a direct leader. He was aware of all the social problems. I don’t believe Another Ajit Pawar will always be born again.

Congress MLC Satej Patil said, “It is a painful day for Maharashtra. Ajitdada’s death is hard to believe. He was an able leader and an artist. He always led from the front. The state has suffered a huge setback.”

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BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Ajit Pawar was very close to my family. We shared joys and sorrows for 22 years. Our bond was unbreakable.”

Bollywood actor Retiesh Deshmukh said, “Ajit Pawar had zero tolerance towards non-artists. He inspired those around him to excel in their field. He was also loved for his sense of humour. I had interacted with him several times, he was a very kind human being.”

Manoj Dattatrye More is a senior editor at The Indian Express and has been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career spanning editorial work, investigative reporting and political analysis. Inherited professional experience: Spent his first 16 years in the newsroom before moving into active field reporting. He has written more than 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact journalism: It is widely respected for its “campaign-style” reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road safety: Its decade-long campaign on the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a Rs 23-crore reconstruction project in 2006, which drastically reduced deaths. Environment Protection: His reports against felling of trees on Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam in which doctors were asked to pay bribes for government positions, resulting in them being hired without pay. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More’s recent work largely focuses on the changing political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts and Alliances “Ajit Pawar’s NCP continues dominance in Pune, wins 10 out of 17 local bodies” (December 21, 2025) – An important report on self-governance election results local, detailing the NCP stronghold in Baramati, Indapur and Lonavala. “BJP arrests 13 former corporators, deals a blow to NCP” (December 20, 2025): Report on major political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as BJP prepares for civic elections. “Congress opts for solo BMC management as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse” (December 17, 2025): Covers breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for Mumbai civic elections. “NCP (SP)’s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere to join BJP” (December 19, 2025) – Details high-profile party changes ahead of municipal elections. 2. Civic and Administrative Responsibility “PCMC draws anger for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before election code” (December 17, 2025) – A research paper on Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute overspending before election restrictions. “93 dead in 76 accidents in five years: Ring road service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 years” (November 16, 2025) – A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to deaths on Pune ring roads. 3. Social and labor issues “As state says, TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE figures say nearly 2,500 were forced to resign” (December 11, 2025): Investigation into conflicting reports on layoffs in IT sector in Maharashtra. “Maharashtra govt takes steps to ‘downgrade’ Aadhaar cards” (November 30, 2025): Report on state’s decision to require additional documents along with Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice of Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by an aggressive stance against local “gondaism” (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure: clogged sewers, garbage management and public transportation. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 …Read more

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