Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh took to X with heartfelt words and old photos after the tragic death of Ajit Pawar, a senior Maharashtra leader and the Deputy Chief Minister at the time of the crash,
died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026. The accident has sent shockwaves through both political and social circles across the state. The chartered aircraft carrying Pawar crashed while attempting to land in Baramati, near Pune, with five people on board. All on board were killed in the accident, including Pawar and members of his team, as the plane caught fire upon impact. Emergency teams reached the site quickly, but unfortunately, there were no survivors. Ajit Pawar was serving as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, a role he held since December 2024. Over decades, he had become one of the most seasoned leaders in the state, known for multiple terms in high office and significant influence within the Nationalist Congress Party before shifting political alliances.
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… pic.twitter.com/nGQ3M1xf0Z
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 28, 2026
Reacting to the news, Riteish Deshmukh shared his grief on social media with a caption about losing someone he respected. He also shared the politician’s photo with her late father, ex-CM of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh. “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. His untimely demise leaves behind a huge loss and an irreplaceable void.”
Riteish went on to reflect on his personal memories of Pawar, touching on the kindness the leader showed him. He added, “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.”
Riteish Deshmukh comes from a prominent political family in Maharashtra. His father, Vilasrao Deshmukh, was one of the state’s most respected leaders and served twice as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, first from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2008. Known for his grounded style of politics and strong connect with the people, Vilasrao Deshmukh passed away in 2012 after a prolonged illness. Riteish has often spoken about the deep influence his father had on his values and outlook on life. His mother, Vaishali Deshmukh, is also active in public life, while Riteish has balanced his acting career alongside his role as a producer, carrying forward the family’s public legacy in his own way.
