Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar tragically died in a plane crash while traveling to Baramati to attend a public rally. Authorities are investigating the incident, and political leaders have expressed their condolences.


Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: DGCA Confirms No Survivors In Baramati Plane Crash

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died after his Learjet 45 crashed while landing at Baramati amid dense fog. Here is a series of events that led to the crash of the plane.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar died after his Learjet 45 crashed while landing at Baramati amid dense fog. Here is a series of events that led to the crash of the plane.

Dense fog, failed landing attempt, explosion: How Ajit Pawar’s plane crashed in Baramati

Private jets like the Learjet 45 lack parachutes due to high-altitude physics, pressurised cabins and crash statistics. Speed, lack of oxygen and aircraft design make jumping mid-flight impossible for passengers. Most accidents also occur too low for parachutes to work.

Private jets like the Learjet 45 lack parachutes due to high-altitude physics, pressurised cabins and crash statistics. Speed, lack of oxygen and aircraft design make jumping mid-flight impossible for passengers. Most accidents also occur too low for parachutes to work.

Ajit Pawar crash: Why private jets don’t have parachutes even for VIPs?

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: PM Modi Remembers Pawar As 'Leader Of The People' 

It was a day of mourning for the political fraternity of Maharashtra - if not India, as senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar tragically lost his life in a plane crash. The incident occurred in Maharashtra’s Baramati, the same place where Pawar started his political journey. An aspiring leader and true people’s favourite, Pawar was famously called “Dada” (elder brother in Marathi) for his leadership and social involvement, while also becoming the face of the NCP (after his separation from uncle Sharad Pawar) since 2023.&nbsp;Pawar’s death also means Maharashtra will never see its beloved leader take the Chief Minister post, something he had aspired to become before tragedy struck in the morning of 28 Jan 2026. Dada was a renowned figure in Indian politics and famously wrote several chapters during his political career, including a rebellion against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in 2023 and taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in November 2019.<h2>Dada’s rise</h2>Having successfully contested the 1991 Baramati Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament), Ajit Pawar vacated his seat in less than 60 days for his uncle Sharad, who was appointed Defence Minister by Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He would then start a new chapter in state politics, winning the Baramati Legislative seat in the 1991 state elections. He would serve the seat until his death, carrying on a winning legacy and interestingly never losing an election.&nbsp;Pawar’s first term as minister came early at the age of 33 when then CM Sudhakarrao Naik appointed him Minister of State for Agriculture and Power. He would later serve as cabinet minister in governments led by Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.<h2>Dada’s golden era</h2>In 2010, after then-CM Ashok Chavan was asked to vacate his post for corruption charges, a new government was formed in Maharashtra led by Prithviraj Chavan. While it was anticipated that Chhagan Bhujbal be retained as Dy CM, it was the internal support that saw Pawar become the front-runner and become the new deputy in the state.However, Pawar’s eyes were always on the big throne of the state and he would make desperate attempts to come into power.<h2>First attempt to be CM</h2>In the build-up to the 2014 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Pawar advocated the idea of running for all 288 seats rather than forming an alliance with the Indian National Congress (INC). The decision was made officially on the same evening when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke its pre-election alliance with Shivsena. This was Pawar’s opportunity to become the kingmaker and if not the king in Maharashtra. However, the BJP’s success and their ideology to form a government with Shivsena saw Pawar and Co sit on the opposition bench despite having 41 seats.&nbsp;ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/was-pawar-s-body-identified-by-his-watch-what-we-know-about-tragic-plane-crash-1769591507027"> Was Ajit Pawar’s body identified by his watch? What we know about tragic plane crash</a><h2>The near miss</h2>In the aftermath of the 2019 Assembly elections, a period of political turmoil saw the BJP split with Shivsena as the latter was set to form a government with Congress and the NCP. Ajit Pawar was elected as the leader of the house for NCP and was advocated as the CM candidate by party leaders. However, uncle Sharad’s preference to support Uddhav Thackeray to become CM saw Pawar take the back seat.&nbsp;As an act of rebellion against uncle Sharad, Ajit Pawar and his supporting MLAs would support the BJP and form a government, which lasted mere three days before Devendra Fadnavis resigned. The formation of the government with the BJP became a huge front-page story while Thackeray was chosen as the CM face by the new alliance of Shivsena, Congress and NCP. Pawar threatened to return unless he was promised the CM post. However, in the coming days after the turmoil, Pawar had to settle for a Deputy CM post in the Thackeray-led government.&nbsp;It was the closest he came to becoming the CM of Maharashtra and was never in the running thereafter with the BJP emerging as the powerhouse in the coming years.<h2>The admission</h2>In a political rally in 2025, Pawar openly admitted that had he been offered the CM post in 2019, he would have stayed with the BJP. Interestingly, this statement came after the BJP supported Eknath Shinde to become the CM of the state in 2022. Shinde had famously rebelled against Shivsena party leader Uddhav Thackeray and supported the BJP in government formation, a move similar to Pawar when he supported Devendra Fadnavis in the aftermath of the 2019 Assembly elections.&nbsp;Unfortunately for Pawar, he was never offered the CM post like Shinde and missed out on the throne.&nbsp;ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/moment-when-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-s-aircraft-crashed-cctv-footage-here-1769587382783"> Exact moment when Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's aircraft crashed: CCTV footage here</a><h2>The legacy</h2>Despite the near misses, Pawar goes down as one of the respected and legendary political figures in the state of Maharashtra. He served as the deputy CM of the state a record six times and worked under a record nine chief ministers during his tenure. As mentioned, he never lost any elections at the individual level and served for the state until his death on Jan 28.&nbsp;Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer

Ajit Pawar goes down as one of the respected and legendary political figures in the state of Maharashtra. He served as the deputy CM of the state a record six times and worked under a record nine chief ministers during his tenure.

It was a day of mourning for the political fraternity of Maharashtra - if not India, as senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar tragically lost his life in a plane crash. The incident occurred in Maharashtra’s Baramati, the same place where Pawar started his political journey. An aspiring leader and true people’s favourite, Pawar was famously called “Dada” (elder brother in Marathi) for his leadership and social involvement, while also becoming the face of the NCP (after his separation from uncle Sharad Pawar) since 2023. Pawar’s death also means Maharashtra will never see its beloved leader take the Chief Minister post, something he had aspired to become before tragedy struck in the morning of 28 Jan 2026. Dada was a renowned figure in Indian politics and famously wrote several chapters during his political career, including a rebellion against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in 2023 and taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in November 2019. Dada’s rise Having successfully contested the 1991 Baramati Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament), Ajit Pawar vacated his seat in less than 60 days for his uncle Sharad, who was appointed Defence Minister by Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He would then start a new chapter in state politics, winning the Baramati Legislative seat in the 1991 state elections. He would serve the seat until his death, carrying on a winning legacy and interestingly never losing an election. Pawar’s first term as minister came early at the age of 33 when then CM Sudhakarrao Naik appointed him Minister of State for Agriculture and Power. He would later serve as cabinet minister in governments led by Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. Dada’s golden era In 2010, after then-CM Ashok Chavan was asked to vacate his post for corruption charges, a new government was formed in Maharashtra led by Prithviraj Chavan. While it was anticipated that Chhagan Bhujbal be retained as Dy CM, it was the internal support that saw Pawar become the front-runner and become the new deputy in the state. However, Pawar’s eyes were always on the big throne of the state and he would make desperate attempts to come into power. First attempt to be CM In the build-up to the 2014 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Pawar advocated the idea of running for all 288 seats rather than forming an alliance with the Indian National Congress (INC). The decision was made officially on the same evening when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke its pre-election alliance with Shivsena. This was Pawar’s opportunity to become the kingmaker and if not the king in Maharashtra. However, the BJP’s success and their ideology to form a government with Shivsena saw Pawar and Co sit on the opposition bench despite having 41 seats. ALSO READ | Was Ajit Pawar’s body identified by his watch? What we know about tragic plane crash The near miss In the aftermath of the 2019 Assembly elections, a period of political turmoil saw the BJP split with Shivsena as the latter was set to form a government with Congress and the NCP. Ajit Pawar was elected as the leader of the house for NCP and was advocated as the CM candidate by party leaders. However, uncle Sharad’s preference to support Uddhav Thackeray to become CM saw Pawar take the back seat. As an act of rebellion against uncle Sharad, Ajit Pawar and his supporting MLAs would support the BJP and form a government, which lasted mere three days before Devendra Fadnavis resigned. The formation of the government with the BJP became a huge front-page story while Thackeray was chosen as the CM face by the new alliance of Shivsena, Congress and NCP. Pawar threatened to return unless he was promised the CM post. However, in the coming days after the turmoil, Pawar had to settle for a Deputy CM post in the Thackeray-led government. It was the closest he came to becoming the CM of Maharashtra and was never in the running thereafter with the BJP emerging as the powerhouse in the coming years. The admission In a political rally in 2025, Pawar openly admitted that had he been offered the CM post in 2019, he would have stayed with the BJP. Interestingly, this statement came after the BJP supported Eknath Shinde to become the CM of the state in 2022. Shinde had famously rebelled against Shivsena party leader Uddhav Thackeray and supported the BJP in government formation, a move similar to Pawar when he supported Devendra Fadnavis in the aftermath of the 2019 Assembly elections. Unfortunately for Pawar, he was never offered the CM post like Shinde and missed out on the throne. ALSO READ | Exact moment when Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's aircraft crashed: CCTV footage here The legacy Despite the near misses, Pawar goes down as one of the respected and legendary political figures in the state of Maharashtra. He served as the deputy CM of the state a record six times and worked under a record nine chief ministers during his tenure. As mentioned, he never lost any elections at the individual level and served for the state until his death on Jan 28. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer

Ajit Pawar goes down as one of the respected and legendary political figures in the state of Maharashtra. He served as the deputy CM of the state a record six times and worked under a record nine chief ministers during his tenure.

Ajit Pawar: The Chief Minister Maharashtra never got

Ajit Pawar's death on Wednesday (Jan 28) has brought into the spotlight VSR Aviation (VSR Ventures Private Limited), a Delhi-based operator that has been linked to not just the Baramati plane crash but another one that left the aircraft dramatically split into two pieces.<h2>VSR connection: The plane carrying Pawar also crashed three years ago</h2>Two crashes. The same aircraft type. The same operator. That is the thread now drawing attention to Delhi-based charter firm VSR Ventures Private Limited, which operates under the name VSR Aviation. After Wednesday’s fatal crash in Maharashtra, the company’s Learjet 45 fleet is under intense scrutiny.The aircraft that went down near Baramati was not unfamiliar to investigators. It had made headlines before. This is the eerie connection between the two plane crashes.<h2>The crash that killed Ajit Pawar</h2>On January 28, 2026, a Learjet 45XR registered VT SSK crash-landed while attempting to land at Baramati airport. All five people on board were killed, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.The jet had taken off from Mumbai around 8 am and lost control roughly 45 minutes later during its landing attempt. Visuals from the site showed the aircraft mangled and burnt.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CCTV captures the moment deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar&#39;s aircraft crashed in Maharashtra’s Baramati . . . .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AjitPawarAccident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AjitPawarAccident</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zin4xkqRbL">pic.twitter.com/Zin4xkqRbL</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2016421612808266018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>2023 crash: An unsettling parallel</h2>The Baramati crash has revived memories of an earlier incident. In September 2023, another Learjet 45XR, also operated by VSR Ventures, registered VT DBL, veered off the runway while landing at Mumbai airport in heavy rain. The aircraft broke into two and caught fire.All eight passengers onboard the plane survived, but the similarities - two serious runway-related incidents involving the same operator, the same aircraft family, within three years - &nbsp;are hard to ignore.According to a Ministry of Civil Aviation report, the 2023 flight from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai was uneventful until the final moments. Mumbai airport was dealing with heavy rain and reduced visibility. The aircraft drifted right of Runway 27 during landing. The jet crash landed near intersecting taxiways, splitting the fuselage. Everyone on board was injured. The co-pilot suffered serious injuries and required extended hospital care.<h2>All we know about VSR Ventures</h2>VSR Ventures was founded by V K Singh and Rohit Singh and operates as a major non-scheduled operator in India. Its services include private charters, medical evacuations and helicopter rentals. Speaking to NDTV after Wednesday’s crash, Captain V K Singh said poor visibility due to weather conditions may have played a role. He stressed that details were still unclear. Notably, the Learjet 45, built by Bombardier, is a fast midsize business jet widely used around the world. It is not unique to VSR. But in India, the company’s recent record stands out.&nbsp;

Ajit Pawar’s fatal Baramati crash has put Delhi based charter firm VSR Aviation under scrutiny. The Learjet 45XR involved had an eerie parallel: another VSR operated Learjet of the same type crashed in Mumbai in 2023, splitting in two. All you need to know.

Ajit Pawar's death on Wednesday (Jan 28) has brought into the spotlight VSR Aviation (VSR Ventures Private Limited), a Delhi-based operator that has been linked to not just the Baramati plane crash but another one that left the aircraft dramatically split into two pieces. VSR connection: The plane carrying Pawar also crashed three years ago Two crashes. The same aircraft type. The same operator. That is the thread now drawing attention to Delhi-based charter firm VSR Ventures Private Limited, which operates under the name VSR Aviation. After Wednesday’s fatal crash in Maharashtra, the company’s Learjet 45 fleet is under intense scrutiny. The aircraft that went down near Baramati was not unfamiliar to investigators. It had made headlines before. This is the eerie connection between the two plane crashes. The crash that killed Ajit Pawar On January 28, 2026, a Learjet 45XR registered VT SSK crash-landed while attempting to land at Baramati airport. All five people on board were killed, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The jet had taken off from Mumbai around 8 am and lost control roughly 45 minutes later during its landing attempt. Visuals from the site showed the aircraft mangled and burnt. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal probe into the crash.

Ajit Pawar’s fatal Baramati crash has put Delhi based charter firm VSR Aviation under scrutiny. The Learjet 45XR involved had an eerie parallel: another VSR operated Learjet of the same type crashed in Mumbai in 2023, splitting in two. All you need to know.

The VSR connection: Ajit Pawar plane crash revives chilling 2023 Learjet disaster linked to same operator

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar died in a fatal plane crash on Wednesday (Jan 28). His chartered plane crashed at Baramati Airport during landing, around 8:45 AM.&nbsp;The death of Ajit Pawar, &nbsp;Maharashtra’s ‘Dada’, has sent shockwaves across the nation. In response to the tragic death of Pawar, numerous political figures and public personalities have expressed grief. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Riteish Deshmukh, Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut, have also shared their condolences.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/moment-when-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-s-aircraft-crashed-cctv-footage-here-1769587382783">Moment when Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's aircraft crashed: CCTV video here</a>&nbsp;Taking to X, the Drishyam actor expressed shock as he wrote,"Shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Hon. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and all those affected by this immense loss. Om Shanti."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Hon. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and all those affected by this immense loss. Om Shanti 🙏🏻&mdash; Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajaydevgn/status/2016388484156817517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Riteish Deshmukh, who is the son of Vilasrao Deshmukh, a prominent politician in India and a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, &nbsp;has known the late politician Pawar for a long time.&nbsp;In a post shared on X, the actor shared the picture of his father Vilasrao and Pawar, as he wrote that he’s deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-blog-ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-baramati-aircraft-crash-1769576284942">Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live | Maharashtra declares state of mourning</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel. He never minced his words, his wit… <a href="https://t.co/nGQ3M1xf0Z">pic.twitter.com/nGQ3M1xf0Z</a>&mdash; Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riteishd/status/2016384828460212621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra's most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel. He never minced his words, his wit was unmatched, and he was deeply loved across the state," Deshmukh wrote.&nbsp;He added,"His untimely demise leaves behind a huge loss and an irreplaceable void. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him numerous times, will always remember for the kindness he showered upon me. My deepest condolences to the Pawar family, his loved ones, and millions of supporters."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-baramati-to-milan-learjet-45-s-deadly-history-after-ajit-pawar-s-death-in-pics-1769579527651">From Baramati to Milan: Learjet 45's deadly history after Ajit Pawar's death</a>&nbsp;Telugu superstar and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, in a tribute post, wrote that he's deeply shocked by the tragic news.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Deeply shocked by the tragic news of the passing of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, President of <a href="https://twitter.com/mahancpspeaks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mahancpspeaks</a>, and an NDA alliance leader, Sri Ajit Dada Pawar ji <a href="https://twitter.com/AjitPawarSpeaks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AjitPawarSpeaks</a>, in a devastating plane crash today. His dedicated public service and immense contributions… <a href="https://t.co/kjUPAcHWdJ">pic.twitter.com/kjUPAcHWdJ</a>&mdash; Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) <a href="https://twitter.com/PawanKalyan/status/2016387511405445339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In a post on X, he wrote,"Deeply shocked by the tragic news of the passing of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, President of @mahancpspeaks, and an NDA alliance leader, Sri Ajit Dada Pawar ji @AjitPawarSpeaks, in a devastating plane crash today.''"I express my profound condolences on his passing and extend my deepest sympathies to his family members, admirers, and party cadre during this moment of immense grief," Kalyan wrote.&nbsp;Actress and MP Kangana Ranaut learned about Pawar's death while she was talking to the media outside Parliament. Expressing shock, she said, "That’s horrible. This is such horrible news, and I’m so sorry... Once I align my emotions a bit, I will give a statement."&nbsp; &nbsp;<h2>Ajit Pawar dies in a plane crash</h2>Maharashtra Deputy CM Pawar died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. &nbsp;There were five people on board, including three passengers identified as Pawar, Vidip Jadhav, and Pinky Mali, one pilot, and one crew member. The Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that there are no survivors in the crash.

Indians woke up to the shocking news of a politician and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar's death. The politician passed away in a fatal plane crash at Baramati Airport during landing, around 8:45 AM.

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar died in a fatal plane crash on Wednesday (Jan 28). His chartered plane crashed at Baramati Airport during landing, around 8:45 AM. The death of Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s ‘Dada’, has sent shockwaves across the nation. In response to the tragic death of Pawar, numerous political figures and public personalities have expressed grief. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Riteish Deshmukh, Ajay Devgn and Kangana Ranaut, have also shared their condolences. Also read: Moment when Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's aircraft crashed: CCTV video here Taking to X, the Drishyam actor expressed shock as he wrote,"Shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Hon. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and all those affected by this immense loss. Om Shanti."

Indians woke up to the shocking news of a politician and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar's death. The politician passed away in a fatal plane crash at Baramati Airport during landing, around 8:45 AM.

'Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken': Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh pay tribute to Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was on board. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash.The Learjet 45 aircraft had departed from Mumbai’s GA Terminal at 8:10 am. However, as it approached the runway at Baramati airport, it crash-landed, killing all on board. An investigation has been launched by India’s civil aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The initial probe revealed that Pawar was critically injured but still alive following the crash, but died when the aircraft exploded.Maharashtra has declared a state mourning for three days. All government offices will remain closed, and the national flag will be flown at half-mast.Following the incident, Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, and his sister, Supriya Sule, are reportedly heading towards the crash site.<h2>Who was on board Ajit Pawar’s plane?</h2>There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. Three passengers aboard and the pilot of the plane have been identified. The three passengers included Pawar, Mumbai Police constable Vidip Jadhav and an attendant, Pinky Mali.Mumbai Police constable Vidip Jadhav was on duty as the Personnel Security Officer (PSO) to Ajit Pawar. He was travelling with Pawar, who was set to hold meetings related 2026 Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.Captain Shambhavi Pathak, the pilot of Ajit Pawar’s Learjet 45, was also killed in the crash. She studied at No. 1 Air Force School, Gwalior, between 2016 and 2018 and was a member of the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club. Captain Sumit Kapoor also died in the crash.Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday (Jan 17) and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present.Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar died after a Learjet 45 crash-landed at Baramati airport. All five onboard, including pilot and crew, were killed. DGCA, AAIB probe is underway.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was on board. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash. The Learjet 45 aircraft had departed from Mumbai’s GA Terminal at 8:10 am. However, as it approached the runway at Baramati airport, it crash-landed, killing all on board. An investigation has been launched by India’s civil aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The initial probe revealed that Pawar was critically injured but still alive following the crash, but died when the aircraft exploded. Maharashtra has declared a state mourning for three days. All government offices will remain closed, and the national flag will be flown at half-mast. Following the incident, Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, and his sister, Supriya Sule, are reportedly heading towards the crash site. Who was on board Ajit Pawar’s plane? There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. Three passengers aboard and the pilot of the plane have been identified. The three passengers included Pawar, Mumbai Police constable Vidip Jadhav and an attendant, Pinky Mali. Mumbai Police constable Vidip Jadhav was on duty as the Personnel Security Officer (PSO) to Ajit Pawar. He was travelling with Pawar, who was set to hold meetings related 2026 Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Captain Shambhavi Pathak, the pilot of Ajit Pawar’s Learjet 45, was also killed in the crash. She studied at No. 1 Air Force School, Gwalior, between 2016 and 2018 and was a member of the Madhya Pradesh Flying Club. Captain Sumit Kapoor also died in the crash. Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday (Jan 17) and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present. Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar died after a Learjet 45 crash-landed at Baramati airport. All five onboard, including pilot and crew, were killed. DGCA, AAIB probe is underway.

Baramati plane crash: Names of Ajit Pawar’s co-passengers revealed – All details here

Ajit Pawar's Learjet crashed catastrophically while attempting to land at Baramati airport, killing all five aboard instantly.


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Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in fiery Baramati plane crash during emergency landing attempt.


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Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Deputy CM Dead in Plane Inferno

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: No Survivors in Baramati Plane Crash: DGCA

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in a charter plane crash in Baramati, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant says," I always did what he said. He was a bold man. He had a big role in the development of the Baramati region. I express my condolences to the entire Pawar family."


Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: "He was a bold man", Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant  

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Accident While Attempting to Land in Baramati


Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Wednesday (Jan 28) was killed as his plane crashed while landing at Baramati Airport. Just an hour before the tragic plane crash, the leader, in what was fated to be his last social media post, had paid respects to 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai. Here's what he had said.<h2>Ajit Pawar's last social media post</h2>Merely an hour before the tragic plane crash claimed his life, Pawar, in a social media post on Facebook and X had paid his respects to Lala Lajpat Rai, saying, “Humble greetings to the great freedom fighter, announcer of Swarajya, 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai ji, who sacrificed his everything for the freedom of the nation! Their patriotism will continue to inspire us.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-critically-injured-after-plane-crash-1769572935864">Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies after plane crashes in Baramati</a><h2>Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash: What happened?</h2>The veteran leader, along with four other people, was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections when his plane was forced to crash-land at 8.45 am this morning. According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, were on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Baramati. Pawar was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and 2 crew members.The charter plane from Mumbai to Baramati crash-landed on the runway threshold in Baramati. Additional information about the plane crash is awaited.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-enemy-ilhan-omar-attacked-during-minneapolis-town-hall-sprayed-with-unknown-liquid-1769563983713">Trump 'enemy' Ilhan Omar attacked during Minneapolis town hall, sprayed with mystery liquid | VIDEO</a> Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present. Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.&nbsp;

Ajit Pawar died after his chartered plane crash-landed at Baramati Airport. About an hour earlier, he had posted this on social media. The aircraft, carrying five people from Mumbai, went down near the runway; further details are awaited, per the DGCA.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Wednesday (Jan 28) was killed as his plane crashed while landing at Baramati Airport. Just an hour before the tragic plane crash, the leader, in what was fated to be his last social media post, had paid respects to 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai. Here's what he had said. Ajit Pawar's last social media post Merely an hour before the tragic plane crash claimed his life, Pawar, in a social media post on Facebook and X had paid his respects to Lala Lajpat Rai, saying, “Humble greetings to the great freedom fighter, announcer of Swarajya, 'Punjab Kesari' Lala Lajpat Rai ji, who sacrificed his everything for the freedom of the nation! Their patriotism will continue to inspire us.” Also read | Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies after plane crashes in Baramati Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash: What happened? The veteran leader, along with four other people, was headed to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections when his plane was forced to crash-land at 8.45 am this morning. According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, were on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Baramati. Pawar was onboard along with 2 more personnel (1 PSO and 1 attendant) and 2 crew members. The charter plane from Mumbai to Baramati crash-landed on the runway threshold in Baramati. Additional information about the plane crash is awaited. Also read | Trump 'enemy' Ilhan Omar attacked during Minneapolis town hall, sprayed with mystery liquid | VIDEO Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present. Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Ajit Pawar died after his chartered plane crash-landed at Baramati Airport. About an hour earlier, he had posted this on social media. The aircraft, carrying five people from Mumbai, went down near the runway; further details are awaited, per the DGCA.

Just an hour before fatal plane crash, Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar posted THIS on social media

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies in tragic Baramati plane crash with no survivors among five on board.


Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Deputy CM Dies After Fiery Plane Crash 

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Pawar was on board. There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies.&nbsp;According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-blog-ajit-pawar-plane-crash-live-updates-maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-baramati-aircraft-crash-1769576284942">Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live Updates | DGCA and AAIB launch formal investigation into crash</a>Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly. Video shows wreckage of Ajit Pawar’s plane that crash-landed in Baramati.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A plane crash was reported in Baramati, Maharashtra, involving an aircraft that had Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on board. Five people, three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member, lost their lives in the crash (Source: ANI) <a href="https://t.co/qYEN7PsLlC">pic.twitter.com/qYEN7PsLlC</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2016370169304776883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The three passengers aboard the plane have been identified as Pawar, Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali.<h2>What initial probe reveals</h2>India's civil aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launched an investigation into the fatal plane crash that killed Pawar. This follows a shocking revelation that, after the plane crash, attempts were underway to save the passengers. Pawar was among those critically injured but still alive when the aircraft exploded.Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present.Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.Watch | Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: PM Modi Speaks to Maharashtra CM Fadnavis<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-pm-modi-speaks-to-maharashtra-cm-fadnavis-1769581254432/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-pm-modi-speaks-to-maharashtra-cm-fadnavis-1769581254432/embed</a> &nbsp;

The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Pawar was on board. There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash. Also read | Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Live Updates | DGCA and AAIB launch formal investigation into crash Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly. Video shows wreckage of Ajit Pawar’s plane that crash-landed in Baramati.

The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash.

Video shows wreckage of Ajit Pawar’s plane that crash landed in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was on board. There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies.&nbsp;According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash. Ajit Pawar's wife and son have rushed to Baramati from Mumbai. Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly.The three passengers aboard the plane have been identified as Pawar, Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali.<h2>What initial probe reveals</h2>India's civil aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launched an investigation into the fatal plane crash that killed Pawar. This follows a shocking revelation that, after the plane crash, attempts were underway to save the passengers. Pawar was among those critically injured but still alive when the aircraft exploded.Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present.Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. DGCA has confirmed that there are no survivors in the Baramati plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was on board. There were five people on board, including three passengers, one pilot, and one crew member. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash. Ajit Pawar's wife and son have rushed to Baramati from Mumbai. Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly. The three passengers aboard the plane have been identified as Pawar, Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali. What initial probe reveals India's civil aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launched an investigation into the fatal plane crash that killed Pawar. This follows a shocking revelation that, after the plane crash, attempts were underway to save the passengers. Pawar was among those critically injured but still alive when the aircraft exploded. Pawar was in Mumbai on Tuesday and took part in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, which was led by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other officials were also present. Ajit Pawar was the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra non-consecutively. He served in the position for six terms within various governments. He had worked as deputy chief minister in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Baramati, confirms DGCA

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. Initial reports suggested he was critically injured. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. The DGCA has confirmed that all five people on the plane have died in the crash. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known.&nbsp;According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash.&nbsp;Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly.&nbsp;Read more details here: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-deputy-cm-ajit-pawar-killed-in-plane-crash-in-baramati-confirms-dgca-1769574006557">Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Baramati, confirms DGCA</a>

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies after plane crashes in Baramati

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has died after his plane crashed during landing at Baramati airport. Initial reports suggested he was critically injured. Pawar was on a tour to Maharashtra’s Baramati and was set to hold four election rallies. The DGCA has confirmed that all five people on the plane have died in the crash. However, the identities of those injured are not yet known. According to WION’s Principal Correspondent Disha Shah, the accident has been described as very serious in nature. The majority of the parts of the aircraft have burned after the crash. The charter plane was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati when it crash landed at 8:45 am. According to reports, police and other party workers have reached the site of the crash. Further information about the exact cause of the crash and those injured will be released shortly. Read more details here: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar killed in plane crash in Baramati, confirms DGCA

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar dies after plane crashes in Baramati

With just four days left for the civic body polls in Maharashtra, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar said on Friday that the rift in the Pawar family has been sorted out and that the workers of both the NCP factions—one headed by him, and the other by his uncle Sharad Pawar, want to reunite.“The workers of both parties want to unite. The two NCPs are together now. All tensions in our family have ended,” said Ajit.The Nationalist Congress Party, founded by Sharad Pawar, had split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar broke away along with other senior party members and joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), claimed the original party name and symbol and became the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-s-defence-minister-khawaja-asif-wants-us-to-kidnap-netanyahu-after-maduro-capture-watch-1767982088543">Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif wants US to ‘kidnap’ Netanyahu after Maduro capture | Watch</a><h2>‘No permanent enemies in politics’</h2>&nbsp;Earlier on Thursday, Ajit Pawar had signalled to a local news channel that the two NCP factions could come together permanently after the ongoing municipal elections and said that there are no “permanent enemies” in politics.“As municipal elections are underway, we are extremely busy with alliance talks, seat-sharing, campaign planning, and the actual campaigning. There is no time to discuss these issues right now…But since both factions have come together in some places, the workers of both parties are very happy. One thing is clear—there are no permanent enemies in politics,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-started-freeing-political-prisoners-so-i-cancelled-2nd-wave-of-planned-attacks-trump-1767968988801">Venezuela started freeing political prisoners, so I cancelled 2nd wave of ‘planned’ attacks: Trump</a>&nbsp;Both NCP factions are fighting together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in the upcoming civic body polls, a decision hailed by the workers of both the parties, Pawar said.“Workers from both factions are happy that we are contesting together in these cities. It is a good thing. We will discuss the larger issue later, as our focus right now is on these elections,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-khamenei-is-looking-to-go-someplace-says-trump-as-protests-intensify-in-iran-1767963290206">‘Khamenei is looking to go someplace,’ says Trump as protests intensify in Iran</a>&nbsp;When asked why he is spending more time in both the cities as compared to his cousin and MP Supriya Sule from Sharad Pawar NCP faction, Ajit said that the focus varies depending on the region and that Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are his home districts.“Sunil Tatkare has also visited Pune, and other leaders are campaigning in their respective districts. I have been informed that Supriya Sule will be visiting the city soon for campaigning,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-trump-s-hands-stained-with-the-blood-of-iranians-some-rioters-want-to-please-him-says-khamenei-amid-death-to-america-chants-1767956396834">‘Trump’s hands stained with the blood of Iranians, some rioters want to please him,’ says Khamenei amid ‘Death to America’ chants</a>&nbsp;MP Supriya Sule, however, said that the two NCP factions have come together for the Pimpri-Chinchwad polls on the demand of party workers.“There has been no discussion on whether this alliance with Ajit Pawar will continue,” she said, while trashing rumours of NCP (SP) joining the BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar had signalled to a news channel that the two NCP factions could come together permanently after the ongoing municipal elections and said that there are no “permanent enemies” in politics.

With just four days left for the civic body polls in Maharashtra, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar said on Friday that the rift in the Pawar family has been sorted out and that the workers of both the NCP factions—one headed by him, and the other by his uncle Sharad Pawar, want to reunite. “The workers of both parties want to unite. The two NCPs are together now. All tensions in our family have ended,” said Ajit. The Nationalist Congress Party, founded by Sharad Pawar, had split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar broke away along with other senior party members and joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), claimed the original party name and symbol and became the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Also Read: Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif wants US to ‘kidnap’ Netanyahu after Maduro capture | Watch ‘No permanent enemies in politics’ Earlier on Thursday, Ajit Pawar had signalled to a local news channel that the two NCP factions could come together permanently after the ongoing municipal elections and said that there are no “permanent enemies” in politics. “As municipal elections are underway, we are extremely busy with alliance talks, seat-sharing, campaign planning, and the actual campaigning. There is no time to discuss these issues right now…But since both factions have come together in some places, the workers of both parties are very happy. One thing is clear—there are no permanent enemies in politics,” he said. Also Read: Venezuela started freeing political prisoners, so I cancelled 2nd wave of ‘planned’ attacks: Trump Both NCP factions are fighting together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in the upcoming civic body polls, a decision hailed by the workers of both the parties, Pawar said. “Workers from both factions are happy that we are contesting together in these cities. It is a good thing. We will discuss the larger issue later, as our focus right now is on these elections,” he said. Also Read: ‘Khamenei is looking to go someplace,’ says Trump as protests intensify in Iran When asked why he is spending more time in both the cities as compared to his cousin and MP Supriya Sule from Sharad Pawar NCP faction, Ajit said that the focus varies depending on the region and that Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are his home districts. “Sunil Tatkare has also visited Pune, and other leaders are campaigning in their respective districts. I have been informed that Supriya Sule will be visiting the city soon for campaigning,” he said. Also Read: ‘Trump’s hands stained with the blood of Iranians, some rioters want to please him,’ says Khamenei amid ‘Death to America’ chants MP Supriya Sule, however, said that the two NCP factions have come together for the Pimpri-Chinchwad polls on the demand of party workers. “There has been no discussion on whether this alliance with Ajit Pawar will continue,” she said, while trashing rumours of NCP (SP) joining the BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar had signalled to a news channel that the two NCP factions could come together permanently after the ongoing municipal elections and said that there are no “permanent enemies” in politics.

‘Family rift sorted’: Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar says both NCP factions ‘together’ now

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. &nbsp; "My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur. Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further," Pawar wrote on X.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-34-human-bombs-400kg-of-rdx-for-blast-india-s-mumbai-on-high-alert-over-threat-1757055509053">'34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat</a>&nbsp;"I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law," he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">सोलापूर जिल्ह्यातील पोलीस अधिकाऱ्यांसोबतच्या संवादाच्या संदर्भात काही व्हिडिओ समाजमाध्यमांवर प्रसारित होत आहेत. मी स्पष्टपणे सांगू इच्छितो की, माझा उद्देश कायद्याच्या अंमलबजावणीमध्ये हस्तक्षेप करण्याचा नव्हता, तर त्या ठिकाणी परिस्थिती शांत रहावी आणि ती अधिक बिघडू नये याची काळजी…&mdash; Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/AjitPawarSpeaks/status/1963904591252336746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the purported video, Pawar was heard speaking to IPS officer Anjana Krishna, where he reportedly asked the IPS officer to stop action against illegal soil excavation in Kurdu village, Solapur.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-we-have-good-relations-with-us-will-resolve-issues-union-minister-piyush-goyal-1757008368621">‘We have good relations with US, will resolve issues,’ Union Minister Goyal</a>&nbsp;"I can understand what you are saying, but I am unable to figure out if I am talking to the Deputy Chief Minister. Can you please call me on my number directly?" the IPS officer said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I will take action against you&quot;: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar&#39;s heated argument with woman IPS officer over illegal excavation goes viral <a href="https://t.co/gsWbZ0ZdKq">pic.twitter.com/gsWbZ0ZdKq</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1963881772669972984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After hearing the officer's response, Pawar seemed angry and said, "I will take action against you. I am myself talking to you and you are asking me to call you directly. You want to see me. Take my number and make a WhatsApp call. How dare you?" Pawar said.&nbsp;

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. 

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force. "My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur. Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further," Pawar wrote on X. Also read: '34 human bombs, 400kg of RDX for blast': Mumbai on high alert over threat "I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law," he added.

After a viral video claimed that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar shouting at a female IPS officer, the minister clarified his stance on the matter, saying that he has immense respect for the police force.&nbsp;

'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer

After 13 people lost their lives in the Jalgaon train accident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday (Jan 23) said that the incident occurred after rumours of fire in the train created panic among the travellers and as a result, people started jumping off the train and subsequently was hit by another speeding train.
Pawar stated that the rumour was spread by two persons Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar, when they heard a tea seller shouting about a fire in the bogie after which both of them panicked and subsequently people started jumping off the train to save themselves.
Speaking to reporters, Ajit Pawar said, "After the railway incident, the administration and other forces got active and started the relief and rescue operations... Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar from Shravasti were on the train... They were travelling in the general bogie and were sitting on the upper berth... One tea seller from the pantry shouted about a fire in the bogie, both of them heard that and panicked..."
"Some passengers jumped out of the moving train to save themselves from the fire... But the train was moving at a good speed so one of the people pulled the chain and the train stopped... Many passengers got off the train and started crossing the railway track... Another train, Karnataka Express came at a very high speed and hit the passengers who were crossing the railway track..." he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-assembly-elections-atishi-slams-punjab-police-security-withdrawal-for-arvind-kejriwal-8648744">India | 'Does Modi-Shah want to play with Kejriwal&rsquo;s life?' Atishi slams Punjab Police security withdrawal for Kejriwal</a>
The Deputy CM further stated that a total of 10 deceased have been identified from the 13 killed while the three deceased are yet to be identified. The total number of injured individuals is 10, out of which 8 are males while two are female and are undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital in Jalgaon.
Maharashtra Deputy CM also informed that the railway services have been running smoothly at the spot.
Pawar said, "As of now, 13 people have been declared dead. 10 of them have been identified while the other 3 yet to be identified... Total injured numbers 10, 8 males to 2 females... This incident happened due to the rumour spread from Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar, they are injured and are under treatment... Railway services are running smoothly. We have instructed the administration to provide treatment to all the injured at government cost. Our ministers and Collectors are looking into the incident..."
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when passengers of the Pushpak Express stepped outside their coaches due to a suspected fire on the train while the Karnataka Express was passing through the adjacent track, and several people were hit by the moving train.
The Railway Ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh ($1739) each for the kin of the deceased in the Jalgaon train accident.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
&nbsp;

A tragic incident unfolded when Pushpak Express passengers exited their coaches due to a fire scare, only to be struck by the Karnataka Express on an adjacent track.

After 13 people lost their lives in the Jalgaon train accident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday (Jan 23) said that the incident occurred after rumours of fire in the train created panic among the travellers and as a result, people started jumping off the train and subsequently was hit by another speeding train. Pawar stated that the rumour was spread by two persons Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar, when they heard a tea seller shouting about a fire in the bogie after which both of them panicked and subsequently people started jumping off the train to save themselves. Speaking to reporters, Ajit Pawar said, "After the railway incident, the administration and other forces got active and started the relief and rescue operations... Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar from Shravasti were on the train... They were travelling in the general bogie and were sitting on the upper berth... One tea seller from the pantry shouted about a fire in the bogie, both of them heard that and panicked..." "Some passengers jumped out of the moving train to save themselves from the fire... But the train was moving at a good speed so one of the people pulled the chain and the train stopped... Many passengers got off the train and started crossing the railway track... Another train, Karnataka Express came at a very high speed and hit the passengers who were crossing the railway track..." he added. Also read | India | 'Does Modi-Shah want to play with Kejriwal’s life?' Atishi slams Punjab Police security withdrawal for Kejriwal The Deputy CM further stated that a total of 10 deceased have been identified from the 13 killed while the three deceased are yet to be identified. The total number of injured individuals is 10, out of which 8 are males while two are female and are undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital in Jalgaon. Maharashtra Deputy CM also informed that the railway services have been running smoothly at the spot. Pawar said, "As of now, 13 people have been declared dead. 10 of them have been identified while the other 3 yet to be identified... Total injured numbers 10, 8 males to 2 females... This incident happened due to the rumour spread from Udhal Kumar and Vijay Kumar, they are injured and are under treatment... Railway services are running smoothly. We have instructed the administration to provide treatment to all the injured at government cost. Our ministers and Collectors are looking into the incident..." The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when passengers of the Pushpak Express stepped outside their coaches due to a suspected fire on the train while the Karnataka Express was passing through the adjacent track, and several people were hit by the moving train. The Railway Ministry has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh ($1739) each for the kin of the deceased in the Jalgaon train accident. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Jalgaon train accident: ‘Incident occurred due to rumour of fire,’ says Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

New Delhi, India
For India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the year 2024 was marked by topsy-turvy political developments.
The year started on a high note with the grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in a star-studded, high-on-emotions consecration ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
Building the temple at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya had been the BJP’s most prominent promise to its Hindu votebank for decades, and it became true in 2024.
There was euphoria among the masses, and most BJP leaders were sure that it would carry through till the elections a few months ahead.
But that was not to be. 
What some sceptics within the BJP had said in hushed tones—that the ceremony was held a bit too early and should have been timed closer to the polls—turned out to be true.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-accuses-us-deep-state-elements-for-targeting-pm-modi-says-washington-trying-to-destabilise-india-782118">BJP accuses US 'deep state' elements for targeting PM Modi, says Washington trying to 'destabilise India'</a>

Among other things, the Congress party’s election promise of depositing Rs 8,500 in the bank accounts of women each month turned the tide considerably.
Eventually, the Congress-led INDIA alliance won in some crucial states, the most notable being Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state most crucial electorally, as it elects 80 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
<h2>Overconfidence cost Yogi dearly; the BJP fell short of majority</h2>
It is said that “The way to Delhi goes through UP.” The saying draws proof from the fact that eight former prime ministers have represented Uttar Pradesh. After two huge consecutive victories in 2014 and 2019 general elections and two back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2022 UP assembly polls, the BJP got overconfident, riding on the hope of Ayodhya temple grand opening having a massive influence on voting.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was BJP’s ‘star campaigner’ and went around the country, possibly unaware that his party was losing ground in his very own backyard.
In 2014, BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP and got 62 in 2019, as the state played a crucial role in getting it a majority on its own both times.
In 2024, the Samajwadi Party led the UP tally with 37, while the BJP won just 33 out of the 80 seats.
As a result, the party fell short of winning a majority on its own, and PM Narendra Modi had to depend on the NDA allies to be back in power again after all the hype of the slogan of winning 400+ seats.
<h2>Maharashtra mauling took majority mark further away</h2>
Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP won just nine seats while the main opposition party, the Congress won 13. 
BJP’s alliance partners too didn’t fare well: Shiv Sena won seven seats, and the NCP just one.
In 2019, BJP had won 25 seats, and along with the then undivided Shiv Sena’s 18 seats, the NDA had bagged 41 out of the total 48 seats, and quite a difference it proved to be. 
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-devendra-fadnavis-5-key-insights-into-the-bjp-leaders-political-journey-781484">Who is Devendra Fadnavis? 5 key insights into the BJP leader's political journey</a>
So overall, for the first time since 2014, the BJP failed to get a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats, 63 less than 303 in 2019, and 32 less than a clear majority.
In fact, adding the seats BJP lost in UP and Maharashtra would have again resulted in a clear majority for it on its own.
BJP also lost seven seats in West Bengal as its tally came down from 19 in 2019 to 12 in 2024.
Fortunately, the NDA won 294 seats, more than the 272 seats required for a simple majority.
The INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, won 232 seats.
<h2>BJP breached its final frontier, Kerala</h2>
The BJP had been struggling to make a mark in Kerala, for long a bastion of the Left, but that changed in 2024 when the party’s Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur constituency by a margin of 74,686 votes and became the party’s first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Kerala.
In total, the results were a setback for Modi, who had always secured majorities in elections as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister till now.
<h2>Undaunted Modi declares victory</h2>
Undaunted by the highly unexpected dip in the number of seats, PM Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance, claiming it was a mandate to move forward with his agenda and pledged to keep his election promise of turning India’s economy into the world’s third biggest.
Modi, however, did succeed in matching one record, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for the third time, but now has to depend on the support of TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, and NCP.
<h2>Overconfidence and overexposure</h2>
Most analysts blamed the overconfidence of BJP leadership and the ‘Abki baar 400 paar’ (which translates to: This time more than 400 seats) slogan, saying it bred smugness in the party leaders and workers and resulted in the jolt.
Another factor was the overexposure of PM Modi. In branding and marketing, overexposure is defined as an excessive amount of media coverage, resulting in the audience losing interest in the message.
The number of interviews PM Modi gave to media channels during the campaign and polling was a bit too much. 
Almost no news channel was left out: one would switch on the TV and Modi would be there giving an interview, whichever was the channel.
<h2>BJP wrests Odisha from BJD, unseats Naveen Patnaik</h2>
In the simultaneous assembly elections, the BJP won Odisha spectacularly, deposing the three-time CM Naveen Patnaik.
In alliance with TDP, the BJP also won Telangana assembly elections, while Congress won Andhra Pradesh.
<h2>Hat-trick in Haryana</h2>
Once the dust settled on general elections in the summer, it was time for BJP to prove its mettle in some state assembly elections.
In Haryana, BJP got the first relief from the drubbing it faced in general elections.
Also watch | BJP does the impossible, clinches Haryana hattrick
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/10/09/0810_WION_HARYANA_ELECTION_ORG_GK_WEB-1728454037-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/0810_WION_HARYANA_ELECTION_ORG_GK_WEB.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=165&tags=Haryana,Modi,congress,Rahul Gandhi,Haryana election" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The party secured a historic third term in the northern state, winning 48 seats and preventing a Congress comeback.
BJP stormed back to power with a clear majority in the 90-member assembly, while the Congress got 37, though their vote share was almost equal at 39.94 per cent and 39.09 per cent respectively.
BJP and Congress almost captured four-fifths of the entire vote base, making the poll a bipolar affair. The Aam Aadmi Party proved dud and drew a blank despite campaigning aggressively.
<h2>Jammu and Kashmir gets an elected govt after Article 370 revocation</h2>
Elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the removal of Articles 370 and 35(A) and witnessed a high turnout.
The results in Jammu and Kashmir were on expected lines, where the BJP did well in the Jammu region. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats, while BJP bagged 29. All other parties, including Congress and PDP, were in single digits.
But as a consolation, BJP had the largest vote share of 25.64 per cent, more than National Conference’s 23.43 per cent despite the big difference in their seats.
<h2>Stunning comeback in Maharashtra</h2>
The Maharashtra assembly elections later in the year saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secure a sweeping victory by winning 235 seats. 
The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena at 57 and NCP at 41 seats.
It was a huge turnaround from the parliamentary elections five months ago. 
In the western state, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray had already lost his claim of being the inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy after aligning with Congress and the NCP to grab power earlier. 
As for the NCP, the people of Maharashtra chose to side with Ajit Pawar than Sharad Pawar in the family clash over the party reigns.
BJP’s choice of alliance and strategy in Maharashtra worked out to perfection.
As part of the Mahayuti, BJP had contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena 83 and Ajit Pawar's NCP 59 seats.
There doesn’t seem to be even a remote chance of this alliance breaking up anytime soon, since both Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar know that the alliance with the BJP has helped them cement their places in the hearts of Maharashtra voters as the leaders of their parties.
In Jharkhand, the BJP put up a good fight and won 21 out of the 81 seats, far short of the majority mark, but came second behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) tally of 34. 
Surprisingly, and in sharp contrast to the results, BJP had got 33.18 per cent of the total polled votes, almost 10 per cent more than JMM, which polled 23.44 per cent. 
This was a consolation for the BJP leadership and kept alive its hope of winning power in next election, perhaps.
<h2>Modi govt sailing smoothly</h2>
The year 2024 saw a return to coalition government at the centre. Even though India has witnessed chaotic coalition governments since the 1990s, Modi 3.0 has so far not seen any hiccups and is sailing unhindered.
One reason may be that the allies have been themselves facing an existential threat. While JD (U) is bothered by RJD in Bihar, TDP was also looking for a revival in Telangana. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have to fortify their own bases and their claims to legacy, so it is in the interest of all to be solidly behind the BJP.
<h2>2024: A mixed bag for the saffron party</h2>
In most of the elections in 2024, the BJP either won or bagged the highest vote share. 
The trend proves that BJP is still the preferred choice of most voters and the Lok Sabha poll verdict was just a blip in its trajectory.
As for the year ahead, a lot will depend on how effectively PM Modi is able to steer the economic growth in difficult times as wars continue, threaten to escalate, and an unpredictable administration of Donald Trump takes over the reigns in the US in the new year.
Will 2025 indeed be a happy new year for the BJP?
Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

The Lok Sabha poll results were a setback for Modi, who had always secured majorities in elections as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister till now. The year 2024 saw a return to coalition government at the centre. Even though India has witnessed chaotic coalition governments since the 1990s, Modi 3.0 has so far not seen any hiccups and is sailing smoothly.



New Delhi, India For India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the year 2024 was marked by topsy-turvy political developments. The year started on a high note with the grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in a star-studded, high-on-emotions consecration ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Building the temple at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya had been the BJP’s most prominent promise to its Hindu votebank for decades, and it became true in 2024. There was euphoria among the masses, and most BJP leaders were sure that it would carry through till the elections a few months ahead. But that was not to be. What some sceptics within the BJP had said in hushed tones—that the ceremony was held a bit too early and should have been timed closer to the polls—turned out to be true. Also read | BJP accuses US 'deep state' elements for targeting PM Modi, says Washington trying to 'destabilise India' Among other things, the Congress party’s election promise of depositing Rs 8,500 in the bank accounts of women each month turned the tide considerably. Eventually, the Congress-led INDIA alliance won in some crucial states, the most notable being Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state most crucial electorally, as it elects 80 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Overconfidence cost Yogi dearly; the BJP fell short of majority It is said that “The way to Delhi goes through UP.” The saying draws proof from the fact that eight former prime ministers have represented Uttar Pradesh. After two huge consecutive victories in 2014 and 2019 general elections and two back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2022 UP assembly polls, the BJP got overconfident, riding on the hope of Ayodhya temple grand opening having a massive influence on voting. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was BJP’s ‘star campaigner’ and went around the country, possibly unaware that his party was losing ground in his very own backyard. In 2014, BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP and got 62 in 2019, as the state played a crucial role in getting it a majority on its own both times. In 2024, the Samajwadi Party led the UP tally with 37, while the BJP won just 33 out of the 80 seats. As a result, the party fell short of winning a majority on its own, and PM Narendra Modi had to depend on the NDA allies to be back in power again after all the hype of the slogan of winning 400+ seats. Maharashtra mauling took majority mark further away Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP won just nine seats while the main opposition party, the Congress won 13. BJP’s alliance partners too didn’t fare well: Shiv Sena won seven seats, and the NCP just one. In 2019, BJP had won 25 seats, and along with the then undivided Shiv Sena’s 18 seats, the NDA had bagged 41 out of the total 48 seats, and quite a difference it proved to be. Also read | Who is Devendra Fadnavis? 5 key insights into the BJP leader's political journey So overall, for the first time since 2014, the BJP failed to get a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats, 63 less than 303 in 2019, and 32 less than a clear majority. In fact, adding the seats BJP lost in UP and Maharashtra would have again resulted in a clear majority for it on its own. BJP also lost seven seats in West Bengal as its tally came down from 19 in 2019 to 12 in 2024. Fortunately, the NDA won 294 seats, more than the 272 seats required for a simple majority. The INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, won 232 seats. BJP breached its final frontier, Kerala The BJP had been struggling to make a mark in Kerala, for long a bastion of the Left, but that changed in 2024 when the party’s Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur constituency by a margin of 74,686 votes and became the party’s first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Kerala. In total, the results were a setback for Modi, who had always secured majorities in elections as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister till now. Undaunted Modi declares victory Undaunted by the highly unexpected dip in the number of seats, PM Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance, claiming it was a mandate to move forward with his agenda and pledged to keep his election promise of turning India’s economy into the world’s third biggest. Modi, however, did succeed in matching one record, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for the third time, but now has to depend on the support of TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, and NCP. Overconfidence and overexposure Most analysts blamed the overconfidence of BJP leadership and the ‘Abki baar 400 paar’ (which translates to: This time more than 400 seats) slogan, saying it bred smugness in the party leaders and workers and resulted in the jolt. Another factor was the overexposure of PM Modi. In branding and marketing, overexposure is defined as an excessive amount of media coverage, resulting in the audience losing interest in the message. The number of interviews PM Modi gave to media channels during the campaign and polling was a bit too much. Almost no news channel was left out: one would switch on the TV and Modi would be there giving an interview, whichever was the channel. BJP wrests Odisha from BJD, unseats Naveen Patnaik In the simultaneous assembly elections, the BJP won Odisha spectacularly, deposing the three-time CM Naveen Patnaik. In alliance with TDP, the BJP also won Telangana assembly elections, while Congress won Andhra Pradesh. Hat-trick in Haryana Once the dust settled on general elections in the summer, it was time for BJP to prove its mettle in some state assembly elections. In Haryana, BJP got the first relief from the drubbing it faced in general elections. Also watch | BJP does the impossible, clinches Haryana hattrick The party secured a historic third term in the northern state, winning 48 seats and preventing a Congress comeback. BJP stormed back to power with a clear majority in the 90-member assembly, while the Congress got 37, though their vote share was almost equal at 39.94 per cent and 39.09 per cent respectively. BJP and Congress almost captured four-fifths of the entire vote base, making the poll a bipolar affair. The Aam Aadmi Party proved dud and drew a blank despite campaigning aggressively. Jammu and Kashmir gets an elected govt after Article 370 revocation Elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the removal of Articles 370 and 35(A) and witnessed a high turnout. The results in Jammu and Kashmir were on expected lines, where the BJP did well in the Jammu region. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats, while BJP bagged 29. All other parties, including Congress and PDP, were in single digits. But as a consolation, BJP had the largest vote share of 25.64 per cent, more than National Conference’s 23.43 per cent despite the big difference in their seats. Stunning comeback in Maharashtra The Maharashtra assembly elections later in the year saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secure a sweeping victory by winning 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena at 57 and NCP at 41 seats. It was a huge turnaround from the parliamentary elections five months ago. In the western state, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray had already lost his claim of being the inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy after aligning with Congress and the NCP to grab power earlier. As for the NCP, the people of Maharashtra chose to side with Ajit Pawar than Sharad Pawar in the family clash over the party reigns. BJP’s choice of alliance and strategy in Maharashtra worked out to perfection. As part of the Mahayuti, BJP had contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena 83 and Ajit Pawar's NCP 59 seats. There doesn’t seem to be even a remote chance of this alliance breaking up anytime soon, since both Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar know that the alliance with the BJP has helped them cement their places in the hearts of Maharashtra voters as the leaders of their parties. In Jharkhand, the BJP put up a good fight and won 21 out of the 81 seats, far short of the majority mark, but came second behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) tally of 34. Surprisingly, and in sharp contrast to the results, BJP had got 33.18 per cent of the total polled votes, almost 10 per cent more than JMM, which polled 23.44 per cent. This was a consolation for the BJP leadership and kept alive its hope of winning power in next election, perhaps. Modi govt sailing smoothly The year 2024 saw a return to coalition government at the centre. Even though India has witnessed chaotic coalition governments since the 1990s, Modi 3.0 has so far not seen any hiccups and is sailing unhindered. One reason may be that the allies have been themselves facing an existential threat. While JD (U) is bothered by RJD in Bihar, TDP was also looking for a revival in Telangana. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have to fortify their own bases and their claims to legacy, so it is in the interest of all to be solidly behind the BJP. 2024: A mixed bag for the saffron party In most of the elections in 2024, the BJP either won or bagged the highest vote share. The trend proves that BJP is still the preferred choice of most voters and the Lok Sabha poll verdict was just a blip in its trajectory. As for the year ahead, a lot will depend on how effectively PM Modi is able to steer the economic growth in difficult times as wars continue, threaten to escalate, and an unpredictable administration of Donald Trump takes over the reigns in the US in the new year. Will 2025 indeed be a happy new year for the BJP? Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

India's BJP in 2024: After a tough general election, party resumes winning streak

For India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the year 2024 was marked by topsy-turvy political developments.

The year started on a high note with the grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in a star-studded, high-on-emotions consecration ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Building the temple at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya had been the BJP’s most prominent promise to its Hindu votebank for decades, and it became true in 2024.

There was euphoria among the masses, and most BJP leaders were sure that it would carry through till the elections a&nbsp;few months ahead. 
 
But that was not to be.&nbsp;

What some sceptics within the BJP had said in hushed tones—that the ceremony was held a bit too early and should have been timed closer to the polls—turned out to be true.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-accuses-us-deep-state-elements-for-targeting-pm-modi-says-washington-trying-to-destabilise-india-782118">BJP accuses US 'deep state' elements for targeting PM Modi, says Washington trying to 'destabilise India'</a>

 
Among other things, the Congress party’s election promise of depositing Rs 8,500 in the bank accounts of women each month turned the tide considerably.

Eventually, the Congress-led INDIA alliance won in some crucial states, the most notable being Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state most crucial electorally, as it elects 80 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha.

<h2>Overconfidence cost Yogi dearly; the BJP fell&nbsp;short of majority</h2>

It is said that “The way to Delhi goes through UP.” The saying draws proof from the fact that eight former prime ministers have represented Uttar Pradesh. After two huge consecutive victories in 2014 and 2019 general elections and two back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2022 UP assembly polls, the BJP got overconfident, riding on the hope of Ayodhya temple grand opening having a massive influence on voting.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was BJP’s ‘star campaigner’ and went around the country, possibly unaware that his party was losing ground in his very own backyard.

In 2014, BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP and got 62 in 2019, as the state played a crucial role in getting it a majority on its own both times.

In 2024, the Samajwadi Party led the UP tally with 37, while the BJP won just 33 out of the 80 seats.

As a result, the party fell short of winning a majority on its own, and PM Narendra Modi had to depend on the NDA allies to be back in power again after all the hype of the slogan of winning 400+ seats.

<h2>Maharashtra mauling took&nbsp;majority mark further away</h2>

Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP won just nine seats while the main opposition party, the Congress won 13.&nbsp;

BJP’s alliance partners too didn’t fare well: Shiv Sena won seven seats, and the NCP just one.

In 2019, BJP had won 25 seats, and along with the then undivided Shiv Sena’s 18 seats, the NDA had bagged 41 out of the total 48 seats, and quite a difference it&nbsp;proved to be.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-is-devendra-fadnavis-5-key-insights-into-the-bjp-leaders-political-journey-781484">Who is Devendra Fadnavis? 5 key insights into the BJP leader's political journey</a>

So overall, for the first time since 2014, the BJP failed to get a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats, 63 less than 303 in 2019, and 32 less than a clear majority. 
 
In fact, adding the seats BJP lost in UP and Maharashtra would have again resulted in a clear majority for it on its own.

BJP also lost seven seats in West Bengal as its tally came down from 19 in 2019 to 12 in 2024.

Fortunately, the NDA won 294 seats, more than the 272 seats required for a simple majority.

The INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, won 232 seats.

<h2>BJP breached its final frontier, Kerala</h2>

The BJP had been struggling to make a mark in Kerala, for long a bastion of the Left, but that changed in 2024 when the party’s Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur constituency by a margin of 74,686 votes and became the party’s first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Kerala.

In total, the results were&nbsp;a setback for Modi, who had always secured majorities in elections as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister till now.

<h2>Undaunted Modi declares victory</h2>

Undaunted by the highly unexpected dip in the number of seats, PM Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance, claiming it was a mandate to move forward with his agenda and pledged to keep his election promise of turning India’s economy into the world’s third biggest.

Modi, however, did succeed in matching one record, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for the third time, but now has to depend on the support of TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, and NCP.

<h2>Overconfidence and overexposure</h2>

Most analysts blamed the overconfidence of BJP leadership and the ‘Abki&nbsp;baar 400 paar’ (which translates to: This time more than 400 seats) slogan, saying it bred smugness in the party leaders and workers and resulted in the jolt.

Another factor was the overexposure of PM Modi. In branding and marketing, overexposure is defined as an excessive amount of media coverage, resulting in the audience losing interest in the message.

The number of interviews PM Modi gave to media channels during the campaign&nbsp;and polling was a bit too much.&nbsp;

Almost no news channel was left out: one would switch on the TV and Modi would be there giving an interview, whichever was the channel.

<h2>BJP wrests Odisha from BJD, unseats Naveen Patnaik</h2>

In the simultaneous assembly elections, the BJP won Odisha spectacularly, deposing the three-time CM Naveen Patnaik.

In alliance with TDP, the BJP also won Telangana assembly elections, while Congress won Andhra Pradesh.

<h2>Hat-trick in Haryana</h2>

Once the dust settled on general elections in the summer, it was time for BJP to prove its mettle in some state assembly&nbsp;elections.

In Haryana, BJP got the first relief from the drubbing it faced in general elections.

Also watch |&nbsp;BJP does the impossible, clinches Haryana hattrick

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/haryana-elections-bjp-delivers-shocker-to-congress-in-haryana-assembly-polls-wion-originals-765830/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
The party secured a historic third term in the northern state, winning 48 seats and preventing a Congress comeback.

BJP stormed back to power with&nbsp;a clear majority in the 90-member assembly, while the Congress got 37, though their vote share was almost equal at 39.94 per cent and 39.09 per cent respectively.

BJP and Congress almost captured four-fifths of the entire vote base, making the poll a bipolar affair. The Aam Aadmi Party proved dud and drew a blank despite campaigning aggressively.

<h2>Jammu and Kashmir gets an elected govt after Article 370 revocation</h2>

Elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the removal of Articles 370 and 35(A) and witnessed a high turnout.

The results in Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir were on expected lines, where the BJP did well in the Jammu region. The National Conference&nbsp;won 42 out of the 90 seats, while BJP bagged 29. All other parties, including Congress and PDP, were in single digits.

But as a consolation, BJP had the largest vote share of 25.64 per cent, more than National Conference’s 23.43 per cent despite the big difference in their seats.

<h2>Stunning comeback in Maharashtra</h2>

The Maharashtra assembly elections later in the year saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secure a sweeping victory by winning 235 seats.&nbsp;

The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena at 57 and NCP at 41 seats.

It was a huge turnaround from the parliamentary elections five months ago.&nbsp;

In the western state, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray had already lost his claim of being the inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy after aligning with Congress and the NCP to grab power earlier.&nbsp;

As for the NCP, the people of Maharashtra chose to side with Ajit Pawar than Sharad Pawar in the family clash over the party reigns.

BJP’s choice of alliance and strategy in Maharashtra worked out to perfection.

As part of the Mahayuti, BJP had contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena 83 and Ajit Pawar's NCP 59 seats.

There doesn’t seem to be even a remote chance of this alliance breaking up anytime soon, since both Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar know that the alliance with the BJP has helped them cement their places in the hearts of Maharashtra voters as the leaders of their parties.

In Jharkhand, the BJP put up a good fight and won 21 out of the 81 seats, far short of the majority mark, but came second behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) tally of 34.&nbsp;

Surprisingly, and in sharp contrast to the results, BJP had got 33.18 per cent of the total polled votes, almost 10 per cent more than JMM, which polled 23.44 per cent.&nbsp;

This was a consolation for the BJP leadership and kept alive its hope of winning power in next election, perhaps.

<h2>Modi govt sailing smoothly</h2>

The year 2024 saw a return to coalition government at the centre. Even though India has witnessed chaotic coalition governments since the 1990s, Modi 3.0 has so far not seen any hiccups and is sailing unhindered.

One reason may be that the allies have been themselves facing an existential threat.&nbsp;While JD (U) is bothered by RJD in Bihar, TDP was also looking for a revival in Telangana.&nbsp;Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have to fortify their own bases and their claims to legacy, so it is in the interest of all to be solidly behind the BJP.

<h2>2024: A&nbsp;mixed bag for the saffron party</h2>

In most of the elections in 2024, the BJP either won or bagged the highest vote share.&nbsp;

The trend proves that BJP is still the preferred choice of most voters and the Lok Sabha poll verdict was just a blip in its trajectory. 
 
As for the year ahead, a lot will depend on how effectively PM Modi is able to steer the economic growth in difficult times as wars continue, threaten to escalate, and an unpredictable administration of Donald Trump takes over the reigns in the US in the new year.

Will 2025 indeed be a happy new year for the BJP?

Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

For India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the year 2024 was marked by topsy-turvy political developments. The year started on a high note with the grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in a star-studded, high-on-emotions consecration ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

For India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the year 2024 was marked by topsy-turvy political developments. The year started on a high note with the grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya in a star-studded, high-on-emotions consecration ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Building the temple at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya had been the BJP’s most prominent promise to its Hindu votebank for decades, and it became true in 2024. There was euphoria among the masses, and most BJP leaders were sure that it would carry through till the elections a few months ahead. But that was not to be. What some sceptics within the BJP had said in hushed tones—that the ceremony was held a bit too early and should have been timed closer to the polls—turned out to be true. Also read | BJP accuses US 'deep state' elements for targeting PM Modi, says Washington trying to 'destabilise India' Among other things, the Congress party’s election promise of depositing Rs 8,500 in the bank accounts of women each month turned the tide considerably. Eventually, the Congress-led INDIA alliance won in some crucial states, the most notable being Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state most crucial electorally, as it elects 80 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Overconfidence cost Yogi dearly; the BJP fell short of majority It is said that “The way to Delhi goes through UP.” The saying draws proof from the fact that eight former prime ministers have represented Uttar Pradesh. After two huge consecutive victories in 2014 and 2019 general elections and two back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2022 UP assembly polls, the BJP got overconfident, riding on the hope of Ayodhya temple grand opening having a massive influence on voting. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was BJP’s ‘star campaigner’ and went around the country, possibly unaware that his party was losing ground in his very own backyard. In 2014, BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in UP and got 62 in 2019, as the state played a crucial role in getting it a majority on its own both times. In 2024, the Samajwadi Party led the UP tally with 37, while the BJP won just 33 out of the 80 seats. As a result, the party fell short of winning a majority on its own, and PM Narendra Modi had to depend on the NDA allies to be back in power again after all the hype of the slogan of winning 400+ seats. Maharashtra mauling took majority mark further away Similarly, in Maharashtra, the BJP won just nine seats while the main opposition party, the Congress won 13. BJP’s alliance partners too didn’t fare well: Shiv Sena won seven seats, and the NCP just one. In 2019, BJP had won 25 seats, and along with the then undivided Shiv Sena’s 18 seats, the NDA had bagged 41 out of the total 48 seats, and quite a difference it proved to be. Also read | Who is Devendra Fadnavis? 5 key insights into the BJP leader's political journey So overall, for the first time since 2014, the BJP failed to get a majority on its own, winning just 240 seats, 63 less than 303 in 2019, and 32 less than a clear majority. In fact, adding the seats BJP lost in UP and Maharashtra would have again resulted in a clear majority for it on its own. BJP also lost seven seats in West Bengal as its tally came down from 19 in 2019 to 12 in 2024. Fortunately, the NDA won 294 seats, more than the 272 seats required for a simple majority. The INDIA alliance, led by the Congress party, won 232 seats. BJP breached its final frontier, Kerala The BJP had been struggling to make a mark in Kerala, for long a bastion of the Left, but that changed in 2024 when the party’s Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur constituency by a margin of 74,686 votes and became the party’s first Lok Sabha parliamentarian from Kerala. In total, the results were a setback for Modi, who had always secured majorities in elections as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister till now. Undaunted Modi declares victory Undaunted by the highly unexpected dip in the number of seats, PM Narendra Modi declared victory for his alliance, claiming it was a mandate to move forward with his agenda and pledged to keep his election promise of turning India’s economy into the world’s third biggest. Modi, however, did succeed in matching one record, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for the third time, but now has to depend on the support of TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, and NCP. Overconfidence and overexposure Most analysts blamed the overconfidence of BJP leadership and the ‘Abki baar 400 paar’ (which translates to: This time more than 400 seats) slogan, saying it bred smugness in the party leaders and workers and resulted in the jolt. Another factor was the overexposure of PM Modi. In branding and marketing, overexposure is defined as an excessive amount of media coverage, resulting in the audience losing interest in the message. The number of interviews PM Modi gave to media channels during the campaign and polling was a bit too much. Almost no news channel was left out: one would switch on the TV and Modi would be there giving an interview, whichever was the channel. BJP wrests Odisha from BJD, unseats Naveen Patnaik In the simultaneous assembly elections, the BJP won Odisha spectacularly, deposing the three-time CM Naveen Patnaik. In alliance with TDP, the BJP also won Telangana assembly elections, while Congress won Andhra Pradesh. Hat-trick in Haryana Once the dust settled on general elections in the summer, it was time for BJP to prove its mettle in some state assembly elections. In Haryana, BJP got the first relief from the drubbing it faced in general elections. Also watch | BJP does the impossible, clinches Haryana hattrick The party secured a historic third term in the northern state, winning 48 seats and preventing a Congress comeback. BJP stormed back to power with a clear majority in the 90-member assembly, while the Congress got 37, though their vote share was almost equal at 39.94 per cent and 39.09 per cent respectively. BJP and Congress almost captured four-fifths of the entire vote base, making the poll a bipolar affair. The Aam Aadmi Party proved dud and drew a blank despite campaigning aggressively. Jammu and Kashmir gets an elected govt after Article 370 revocation Elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after the removal of Articles 370 and 35(A) and witnessed a high turnout. The results in Jammu and Kashmir were on expected lines, where the BJP did well in the Jammu region. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats, while BJP bagged 29. All other parties, including Congress and PDP, were in single digits. But as a consolation, BJP had the largest vote share of 25.64 per cent, more than National Conference’s 23.43 per cent despite the big difference in their seats. Stunning comeback in Maharashtra The Maharashtra assembly elections later in the year saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secure a sweeping victory by winning 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena at 57 and NCP at 41 seats. It was a huge turnaround from the parliamentary elections five months ago. In the western state, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray had already lost his claim of being the inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy after aligning with Congress and the NCP to grab power earlier. As for the NCP, the people of Maharashtra chose to side with Ajit Pawar than Sharad Pawar in the family clash over the party reigns. BJP’s choice of alliance and strategy in Maharashtra worked out to perfection. As part of the Mahayuti, BJP had contested 148 seats, Shiv Sena 83 and Ajit Pawar's NCP 59 seats. There doesn’t seem to be even a remote chance of this alliance breaking up anytime soon, since both Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar know that the alliance with the BJP has helped them cement their places in the hearts of Maharashtra voters as the leaders of their parties. In Jharkhand, the BJP put up a good fight and won 21 out of the 81 seats, far short of the majority mark, but came second behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) tally of 34. Surprisingly, and in sharp contrast to the results, BJP had got 33.18 per cent of the total polled votes, almost 10 per cent more than JMM, which polled 23.44 per cent. This was a consolation for the BJP leadership and kept alive its hope of winning power in next election, perhaps. Modi govt sailing smoothly The year 2024 saw a return to coalition government at the centre. Even though India has witnessed chaotic coalition governments since the 1990s, Modi 3.0 has so far not seen any hiccups and is sailing unhindered. One reason may be that the allies have been themselves facing an existential threat. While JD (U) is bothered by RJD in Bihar, TDP was also looking for a revival in Telangana. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have to fortify their own bases and their claims to legacy, so it is in the interest of all to be solidly behind the BJP. 2024: A mixed bag for the saffron party In most of the elections in 2024, the BJP either won or bagged the highest vote share. The trend proves that BJP is still the preferred choice of most voters and the Lok Sabha poll verdict was just a blip in its trajectory. As for the year ahead, a lot will depend on how effectively PM Modi is able to steer the economic growth in difficult times as wars continue, threaten to escalate, and an unpredictable administration of Donald Trump takes over the reigns in the US in the new year. Will 2025 indeed be a happy new year for the BJP? Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

Maharashtra, India
Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in. 
The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio. 
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries. 
Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue to be the industries minister. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-cabinet-shiv-sena-mla-bhondekar-resigns-citing-broken-promise-of-cabinet-berth-784294">Also read: Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth</a>
Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister. 
Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry. 
In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats. 
Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis. 
Watch | Why Maharashtra matters to India
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Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio. 
Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility. 
"All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde landed three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. 



Maharashtra, India Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in. The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries. Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue to be the industries minister. Also read: Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister. Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry. In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats. Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis. Watch | Why Maharashtra matters to India × Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio. Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility. "All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra cabinet portfolios allocated: Devendra Fadnavis keeps home ministry. Know what others got

Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in.&nbsp;

The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio.&nbsp;

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries.&nbsp;

Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue&nbsp;to be the industries minister.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-cabinet-shiv-sena-mla-bhondekar-resigns-citing-broken-promise-of-cabinet-berth-784294">Also read:&nbsp;Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth</a>

Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister.&nbsp;

Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry.&nbsp;

In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats.&nbsp;

Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Why Maharashtra matters to India

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Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio.&nbsp;

Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility.&nbsp;

"All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI.

(With inputs from agencies)

Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works.

Around two weeks after the Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony, the cabinet portfolio was announced on Saturday (Dec 21). Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got three ministries, including Urban Development, Housing and Public Works. However, he did not get the Home portfolio, which he was interested in. The second Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has been assigned the key Finance Ministry portfolio. Moreover, he also got the Excise portfolio. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis got himself the Home, Energy, and Law ministries. Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse will be the new school education minister while Uday Samant will continue to be the industries minister. Also read: Maharashtra cabinet: Shiv Sena MLA Bhondekar resigns citing broken promise of cabinet berth Sena's Prakash Abitkar will be heading the health ministry while Pratap Sarnaik is the transport minister. Bharatiya Janata Party's Chandrashekhar Bawankule got the revenue ministry. In the Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory, winning 235 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena won 57 and NCP secured 41 seats. Shiv Sena demanded the CM portfolio for Eknath Shinde after the victory. However, after days of discussion, Shinde relented and conceded the Chief Minister's post to Devendra Fadnavis. Watch | Why Maharashtra matters to India × Later, Shinde demanded the home portfolio. Hours before the cabinet portfolios were assigned today, state minister Girish Mahajan said "he believes a unanimous decision has been reached" between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Deputies over portfolio allocation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, terming the delay in portfolio allocation "a joke", adding that the ministers have gotten their perks but no responsibility. "All ministers got bungalows and cars but no responsibility. A joke is going on. No one wants to serve," he told Indian news agency ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister on December 5, News agency PTI reported Wednesday. The final decision to confirm Fadnavis's name as the chief minister of India's richest state was taken in the BJP core committee meeting earlier in the day (Dec 4). Watch in for more details!

India: Fadnavis Set To Be CM, Eknath Shinde Likely To Be Deputy CM | Race To Power

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Sunday (Dec. 1) that the state's CM candidate would be decided on Monday, more than a week after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious in the assembly polls.

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Sunday (Dec. 1) that the state's CM candidate would be decided on Monday, more than a week after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance emerged victorious in the assembly polls. Addressing a press conference in Satara, caretaker Chief Minister Shinde reiterated his unconditional support to the CM candidate, stating that people delivered a historic mandate in favour of the Mahayuti alliance. The Mahayuti alliance achieved a landslide victory in the assembly polls. The BJP won 132 seats out of the total 280, while the Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) won 57 seats and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar won 41 seats. Shinde's clarification on going to his native village Shinde headed to his native village of Dare in Satara on Friday amid speculations that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up. Also read | Ajit Pawar says Maharashtra CM will be from BJP, allies to get deputy CM posts Shinde told reporters on Sunday that there were no differences among the Mahayuti partners on government formation. He said that he comes to Dare regularly and wondered why there should be any confusion (over his visit) when he cleared his stand on the CM’s post last week. STORY | Maharashtra CM to be decided by BJP; will have my support: Shinde (@mieknathshinde) READ: https://t.co/vgqYNqxZ3d VIDEO: (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/m1XrJpmPUZ — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2024 × "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here," Shinde said. “I always come to my village. Why should there be any confusion when I have already made my stand clear last week? I have already said the decision on CM’s post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing,” he added. Shinde said last week that his party would support the decisions of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to name the next Maharashtra CM. Next CM to be from BJP, swearing-in ceremony on Dec 5 Earlier, Ajit Pawar clarified that the next Maharashtra CM would be from the BJP, and the two deputy CMs would be from the NCP and Shiv Sena. Also read | PM Modi urges youth to enter politics as BJP-led Mahayuti celebrates Maharashtra win Shinde, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, Pawar, Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening to discuss the deadlock over the CM position. "During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that the Mahayuti would form the government with the Chief Minister from BJP, while the remaining two parties would have Deputy Chief Ministers," Pawar said during a press conference. While the name of the new CM is unknown till Monday, Devendra Fadnavis is widely considered the top choice. Fadnavis, the current deputy CM, had served as Maharashtra's chief minister from 2014 to 2019. The swearing-in ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will be in Mumbai on Thursday (December 5). (With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra chief minister candidate will be decided tomorrow: Caretaker CM Eknath Shinde

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership is yet to announce the next chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra. In an update on the situation Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar, who currently holds the position of deputy chief minister in the caretaker government, confirmed on Saturday (Nov 30) that the state will be led by a member of the BJP and there will be two deputy CMs from other Mahayuti constituents.

The BJP has also confirmed that the new Mahayuti government will be formally sworn in on December 5, 2024, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the event.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/no-summons-request-received-on-adani-bribery-case-says-indian-foreign-ministry-780396">No summons request received on Adani bribery case, says Indian foreign ministry</a>

<h2>Oath-taking ceremony is set for December 5</h2>

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state BJP chief, confirmed the date of the ceremony on Saturday, sharing the details on X (formerly Twitter). "The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra will be held in the presence of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5 PM at Azad Maidan, Mumbai," Bawankule posted.

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राज्यातील महायुती सरकारचा शपथविधी 
 
विश्वगौरव माननीय पंतप्रधान श्री. <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> जी यांच्या उपस्थितीत गुरुवार, दि. ५ डिसेंबर २०२४ रोजी संध्याकाळी ५ वाजता आझाद मैदान, मुंबई येथे संपन्न होणार आहे. 
 
राज्य में महायुती सरकार का शपथ ग्रहण समारोह 
 
विश्वगौरव माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री…
— Chandrashekhar Bawankule (@cbawankule) <a href="https://twitter.com/cbawankule/status/1862845509289095281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Nagpur, Maharashtra: State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "... The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti government, will be held in Mumbai's Azad Maidaan, in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, on 5 December 2024..." <a href="https://t.co/MKJNhUvqoO">pic.twitter.com/MKJNhUvqoO</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1862851078615904718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The upcoming government will be a coalition of the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This alliance, known as Mahayuti, secured a commanding 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra elections held on November 20.&nbsp;

The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41 seats.

As the new government takes shape, all eyes are on the leadership structure and the formal induction of the next CM, with the swearing-in ceremony on December 5 expected to clarify the political landscape in Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership is yet to announce the next chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra. In an update on the situation Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar, who currently holds the position of deputy chief minister in the caretaker government, confirmed on Saturday (Nov 30) that the state will be led by a member of the BJP and there will be two deputy CMs from other Mahayuti constituents.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership is yet to announce the next chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra. In an update on the situation Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar, who currently holds the position of deputy chief minister in the caretaker government, confirmed on Saturday (Nov 30) that the state will be led by a member of the BJP and there will be two deputy CMs from other Mahayuti constituents. The BJP has also confirmed that the new Mahayuti government will be formally sworn in on December 5, 2024, at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the event. Also read | No summons request received on Adani bribery case, says Indian foreign ministry Oath-taking ceremony is set for December 5 Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state BJP chief, confirmed the date of the ceremony on Saturday, sharing the details on X (formerly Twitter). "The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra will be held in the presence of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5 PM at Azad Maidan, Mumbai," Bawankule posted. राज्यातील महायुती सरकारचा शपथविधी विश्वगौरव माननीय पंतप्रधान श्री. @narendramodi जी यांच्या उपस्थितीत गुरुवार, दि. ५ डिसेंबर २०२४ रोजी संध्याकाळी ५ वाजता आझाद मैदान, मुंबई येथे संपन्न होणार आहे. राज्य में महायुती सरकार का शपथ ग्रहण समारोह विश्वगौरव माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री… — Chandrashekhar Bawankule (@cbawankule) November 30, 2024 × #WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "... The oath-taking ceremony of the Mahayuti government, will be held in Mumbai's Azad Maidaan, in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, on 5 December 2024..." pic.twitter.com/MKJNhUvqoO — ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2024 × Also read | Cyclone Fengal makes landfall in India's Tamil Nadu, red alert issued in 10 districts The upcoming government will be a coalition of the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This alliance, known as Mahayuti, secured a commanding 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra elections held on November 20. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41 seats. As the new government takes shape, all eyes are on the leadership structure and the formal induction of the next CM, with the swearing-in ceremony on December 5 expected to clarify the political landscape in Maharashtra. (With inputs from agencies)

Ajit Pawar says Maharashtra CM will be from BJP, allies to get deputy CM posts

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