Mumbai, Jan 28 (IANS): Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has passed away, prompting the state government to announce a three-day mourning period.
His cremation will take place with state honours on Thursday at 11 a.m., during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast across state buildings, and government entertainment programmes will be suspended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the ceremony. Various political leaders have expressed their condolences, highlighting Pawar’s dedication and contributions to Maharashtra.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shekar mourned the loss as tragic and noted Pawar’s characteristics of steadfastness and diligence. Former CM Sushil Kumar Shinde remembered him as a kind and hardworking colleague with significant impacts on poor communities and cooperatives.
Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav echoed similar sentiments about Pawar’s straightforward nature and hardworking spirit, while Congress MP Digvijaya Singh raised concerns regarding the circumstances of the aircraft crash that led to Pawar’s death. AICC in-charge of Telangana Manikrao Thakre emphasized the tragedy of the loss felt across Maharashtra.
