Eknath Shinde Mourns Ajit Pawar "Straightforward and Fearless Leader"

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed profound grief over the death of his cabinet colleague and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, describing him as a “straightforward and fearless leader” with exceptional administrative acumen. Speaking to reporters shortly after the crash, Shinde highlighted Pawar’s meticulous approach to decision-making and his strong grip on governance. “He was fond of studying every aspect of decision-making. He was a straightforward and fearless leader. I have seen this myself,” Shinde said, recalling their collaboration both when he served as Chief Minister and later alongside Pawar as Deputy CM.

Shinde fondly remembered Pawar, popularly known as ‘Dada,’ as a team player who ensured key welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana continued despite financial challenges. He compared Pawar to an elder brother, saying, “Ajit Dada worked as a team for Maharashtra. He was like a bigger brother to me, and I am very pained.” In a conversation with NDTV, Shinde added that Maharashtra had lost a “lok neta” (people’s leader) who was knowledgeable across departments, punctual, honest, and deeply committed to the state’s development. “We worked as a team to develop this state. Ajit Pawar played a huge role in this,” he emphasized.

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Pawar’s political journey included wresting control of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and aligning it with the Mahayuti coalition of BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Though occasional tensions arose—such as a brief ‘cold war’ in May over remarks and fund allocations—Shinde downplayed any lasting rift, focusing instead on their shared efforts for Maharashtra. Pawar’s sudden demise has created a significant void in the state’s coalition politics, where his bold maneuvers often proved decisive.

Tributes continue to pour in as political leaders across parties remember Pawar’s contributions to rural development, irrigation, and pragmatic governance.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar Passes Away: Learjet Crash Claims Deputy CM and Four Others