In one of his last extensive interviews before his tragic death in a plane crash on January 28, 2026, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar openly criticized the shifting nature of Indian politics. Speaking to news agency PTI, he expressed deep concern over what he described as a “steady erosion of ideological commitment,” with parties and leaders increasingly abandoning core principles for power, money, or survival. Pawar highlighted how defections have become commonplace, often driven by inducements, pressure tactics, or assurances that pending inquiries would be “managed” after switching sides.

“Lately, parties have almost abandoned their respective ideologies… leaders are going anywhere and doing whatever they feel,” Pawar said, pointing to unnamed cases where politicians were poached through financial incentives or threats related to ongoing probes. He also noted the growing influence of money, muscle power, and caste-based mobilization in elections, particularly ahead of civic body polls in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. Pawar observed that candidate selection had shifted dramatically from rewarding development work or constituency service to a purely numbers-driven approach: “Surveys are now being used to check who is the most popular candidate… if the person belongs to the opposite party, then efforts are made to poach him or her.”

The remarks carried added irony given Pawar’s own political trajectory. After splitting from uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in 2023 and aligning with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, his group won 41 seats in the recent state elections. Yet, recent tensions surfaced when the BJP sidelined his NCP in key Mumbai civic polls, prompting Pawar to briefly reunite with Sharad Pawar to defend family strongholds in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Despite sharp attacks on the BJP’s “lack of vision,” the BJP prevailed in those elections, forcing Pawar to realign and retain his Deputy CM post. Critics had long pointed to closures of major cases against him—such as a 2019 bank scam probe and a 2024 income tax matter—shortly after key political moves.

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Pawar’s plane reportedly lost control and crashed during landing at Baramati airport earlier today, claiming his life along with four others. His candid reflections on political opportunism now serve as a poignant final commentary from a leader known for pragmatic, often controversial, navigation of alliances and power dynamics in Maharashtra.

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