Mumbai, Jan 28: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic demise of co-Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who lost his life in a devastating charter plane crash near Baramati.

In an emotional statement, Shinde, who worked closely with Pawar, described the loss as "deeply saddening," recalling their collaboration for the progress of Maharashtra. "Ajit da was not just a colleague, but an elder brother to me. We worked as a team, particularly on initiatives like the 'Ladki Behen Yojana,' where his role was invaluable," Shinde said. He further added that the government would launch an investigation into the crash to prevent such incidents in the future.

Shinde mourned the loss, saying, "This is a great loss for Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar was a hardworking and dedicated leader who always valued time. His clear communication and no-nonsense attitude were a hallmark of his leadership. Though he appeared stern, he had a heart of gold."

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also expressed his condolences, calling Pawar "a great leader" who contributed significantly to Maharashtra's development. "His sudden demise in a plane crash is a huge loss for the state," Athawale said, recalling Pawar's remarkable work, especially in the local body elections.

The small charter aircraft, carrying Ajit Pawar, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport, 45 minutes after taking off from Mumbai. Pawar, who had served as Maharashtra's longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister, held the position across six terms in various governments, including those led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.

This tragic incident has left a deep void in Maharashtra's political landscape, with leaders across the state paying tributes to the legacy of Ajit Pawar.