Ajit Pawar's Funeral Set for Thursday in Baramati; PM Modi and Amit Shah Likely to Attend 2
The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash, will be held with full state honours on Thursday in his hometown of Baramati in Pune district, Nationalist Congress Party sources said. The funeral will take place at the Vidya Pratishthan ground from 11 am, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend, along with leaders from across the political spectrum.
Pawar, 66, died in the crash on Wednesday when the Learjet 45XR aircraft he was travelling in struck difficulties while landing near Baramati Airport shortly after taking off from Mumbai. Four others onboard — his personal security officer, an attendant and two crew members — were also killed in the accident.
The state government has declared a three-day period of mourning and announced a public holiday for Wednesday as the region and political circles express deep grief over Pawar’s sudden death. Widely respected across party lines, Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and two sons, Parth and Jay.
RIP Ajit Pawar: Political Rise and the Current Phase in Maharashtra Politics 4
Very unfortunate that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash, on Wednesday (January 28, 2026), in Baramati. Four other people on board the private aircraft, including the pilot and co-pilot were also killed.
Pawar was travelling on a Bombardier Learjet 45 business jet, owned by a Delhi-based firm VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The Learjet 45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace.
The incident halted the flight operations at Mumbai international airport for an hour and 45 minutes. Photographs of the Bombardier Learjet 45 went viral showing two broken parts from the cockpit portion, due to the impact of the accident.
Ajit Pawar has been a consistent presence in Maharashtra politics for over three decades, primarily in roles connected with administration and governance. His political career began in the cooperative sector and gradually expanded into state-level leadership positions. The trajectory of this rise was incremental, shaped by institutional experience, electoral continuity, and shifting political circumstances.
Pawar’s early political exposure came through cooperative institutions. His involvement with cooperative sugar factories and the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank provided him with organisational and financial administration experience. This background later informed his functioning within government, particularly in departments related to finance and infrastructure.
He entered the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in the early 1990s and has since represented the Baramati constituency multiple times. Winning the constituency in successive elections established him as a stable political figure within the state. Over the years, he held several ministerial portfolios and was appointed Deputy Chief Minister on multiple occasions, serving under different coalition governments.
As a minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Pawar handled key departments such as Finance, Irrigation, Water Resources, Rural Development, and Planning. These sectors placed him at the centre of policy decisions affecting agriculture, infrastructure development, and budgetary allocation. Several initiatives from these departments were implemented during his tenure, while others were subjects of political debate and public scrutiny.
Pawar’s administrative style has generally been described as direct and task-focused. Supporters viewed this approach as contributing to faster decision-making, while critics argued that it allowed limited scope for consultation. These assessments have coexisted throughout his career and reflect broader debates on governance styles rather than individual exceptions.
Politically, his journey has included periods of stability as well as significant transitions. Coalition politics in Maharashtra, internal party dynamics, and national political developments have influenced his role at different stages. Events surrounding the formation and collapse of governments in 2019 and subsequent years marked a turning point in how his political position was perceived.
Following the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022, Pawar served for a period as Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Subsequent political realignments led to his faction claiming the Nationalist Congress Party’s name and symbol, a decision later recognised by the Election Commission of India. This development formally altered the organisational structure of the party and clarified leadership control.
Ajit Pawar was part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra and served as Deputy Chief Minister. His role today differs from earlier phases when he was seen as the dominant administrative figure within government. Decision-making in the current political framework is distributed among coalition partners, reflecting the realities of alliance governance.
The shift in Pawar’s political position is not attributable to a single event, but rather to evolving power equations, generational leadership changes, and coalition compulsions within the state. Such transitions are not uncommon in long political careers, particularly in states with complex alliance politics like Maharashtra.
Ajit Pawar’s record in public life includes both administrative contributions and contested decisions. His tenure reflects the operational challenges of governance as well as the political negotiations inherent in coalition systems. A long-term assessment of his role will likely focus on policy outcomes, institutional impact, and the sustainability of the decisions taken during his various terms in office.
His position represents neither a conclusion nor a continuation of earlier dominance, but a changed phase shaped by contemporary political alignments. As with most political careers, his legacy will be evaluated over time, based on outcomes rather than narratives.
In democratic politics, leadership roles evolve with context. Authority shifts, responsibilities redistribute, and influence recalibrates.
Telangana Stray Dog Killings Continue: 100 More Allegedly Culled in Nagarkurnool, Toll Reaches 1,200 6
Animal rights activists on Wednesday claimed that nearly 100 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district, pushing the reported toll of canine deaths across the state to around 1,200 since December 2025.
Police confirmed that an FIR has been registered in connection with the latest incident at Thimmaipally village, naming three accused, including the son of a village panchayat president. The case was filed following a complaint by animal welfare activist M Preethi, who alleged that stray dogs were killed about 10 days ago by administering poisonous injections. According to the complaint, dog killers were allegedly hired for ₹18,000 and the carcasses were buried around two kilometres away from the village.
Preethi, who works as an Animal Cruelty Prevention Assistant with the Stray Animal Foundation of India, accused the village sarpanch and the gram panchayat secretary of orchestrating the killings. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against the sarpanch’s son, the panchayat secretary and a villager under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
A police official at Charakonda police station said carcasses of 12 dogs have been recovered so far and further investigation is underway to ascertain the full extent of the alleged culling.
Several incidents of mass killings of stray dogs were reported from different districts of Telangana in December last year and January, with activists alleging that the deaths were linked to promises made to villagers ahead of gram panchayat elections to address the stray dog menace. FIRs have been filed in multiple cases against panchayat presidents, their relatives, secretaries and others.
In a separate incident, animal welfare activist A Goutham alleged that around 50 stray dogs were illegally captured from Boppapur village in Siddipet district and relocated to a nearby forest area, in violation of animal protection laws. In his complaint to the police, he accused the village sarpanch and secretary of carrying out the act and demanded a fair probe and strict accountability.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Dies in Tragic Plane Crash Near Baramati 8
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday morning when the aircraft carrying them crashed while landing near Baramati in Pune district, officials confirmed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the Learjet 45XR aircraft was attempting to land at Baramati airport when it lost control and crash-landed around 8:45 am, bursting into flames, with no survivors among the five people on board.
The chartered flight had departed from Mumbai and was en route to Baramati, where Pawar, a veteran politician and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, was scheduled to attend campaign events ahead of upcoming local elections.
Among those killed were Pawar, two crew members and two aides, including his personal security officer and an attendant. Videos and images from the scene showed the aircraft wreckage engulfed in flames and scattered debris at the crash site, with emergency teams responding promptly.
Pawar, 66, had served multiple terms as Deputy Chief Minister and was a key figure in Maharashtra politics. Union and state leaders, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, were informed and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
The tragic crash has sent shockwaves across the state, with senior leaders and the public alike mourning the loss of a prominent political leader. An investigation by aviation authorities is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Maharashtra Clears Rs 22,000-Crore Metro Line to Link Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Airports 10
The Maharashtra Cabinet Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday approved a 35-km Metro project to directly connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with Navi Mumbai International Airport, at an estimated cost of over ₹22,000 crore.
The high-powered panel cleared Metro Line 8, pegged at ₹22,862 crore, which will feature 20 stations—six underground and 14 elevated. Land acquisition for the project will cover 30.7 hectares and is expected to cost ₹388 crore, according to a release from the Chief Minister’s Office Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that all land acquisition and statutory approvals for the corridor—from Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 to Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal 2—be completed within six months, with construction to be finished within three years of approvals.
Of the total alignment, 9.25 km will run underground from Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar East, while 24.63 km will be elevated from Ghatkopar West to Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal 2.
The committee also asked departments to fast-track extensions of the Samruddhi Expressway on the Nagpur–Gondia and Bhandara–Gadchiroli routes to prevent delays. In view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, it approved the 66.15-km Nashik city ring road project at a cost of ₹3,954 crore.
Additionally, the panel cleared the upgradation of the 85.76-km Navegaon More–Konsari–Mulchera–Hedri–Surjagad highway in Gadchiroli into a four-lane cement concrete road to facilitate mineral transportation.
SGNP Eviction Drive Triggers Protests as Hundreds Oppose Demolition Inside National Park 12
A demolition drive inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park triggered tense scenes on Tuesday morning as hundreds of residents, including women and elderly people, gathered inside the protected forest area to oppose the eviction.
The protest erupted after forest authorities moved to clear structures in the Navapada area of SGNP, prompting strong resistance from families who claimed the demolished houses had been their homes for generations. Residents alleged the action violated their traditional rights and ignored safeguards provided under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). They also criticised the administration for issuing eviction notices during a holiday period, leaving them little time to respond or seek legal relief.
Forest officials said the demolition targeted families who were earlier rehabilitated at Chandivali in Powai under a government-approved resettlement scheme. According to officials, some beneficiaries allegedly sold or rented out their allotted homes and later returned to occupy forest land inside the national park, violating the terms of rehabilitation.
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park administration said the eviction was ordered by a High-Powered Committee (HPC) in line with Bombay High Court directions. In a statement, officials said that families who had already availed rehabilitation benefits and then re-encroached on forest land had misused the scheme and were being evicted as a first step toward ensuring rehabilitation for other eligible families awaiting relief for years.
⚠ Tension erupted at Sanjay Gandhi National Park during an anti-encroachment drive as police faced resistance from locals.
“Unless those who have misused the rehabilitation scheme are evicted, other eligible families will continue to be deprived of the benefits envisaged under the court’s 1997 order,” the SGNP administration said, adding that eviction notices were displayed at relevant locations on January 17, 2026, and residents were informed to vacate voluntarily.
While tensions ran high throughout the morning, officials confirmed that no violence was reported during the protest.
SC Defers Hearing on Delhi School Fee Regulation Law to February 2 14
The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday adjourned till February 2 the hearing on a plea challenging a new law regulating school fees in the national capital.
A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Vijay Bishnoi deferred the matter after Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Delhi government, informed the court that a meeting had already been held with senior officials and that another round of discussions was required to resolve the issues raised. Accepting the submission, the top court agreed to list the matter again on February 2.
The apex court had earlier questioned the timing of the enforcement of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Act, 2025, noting that it was brought into force when the academic year was already underway. The court is hearing petitions filed by associations of private unaided schools challenging both the Act and the rules framed under it.
Recently notified by the Delhi government, the law lays down detailed provisions on permissible fee components, accounting practices and restrictions on additional charges. It also prohibits the collection of capitation fees and any amount beyond what is approved under the regulatory framework.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had refused to stay a notification directing private schools in the city to constitute fee regulation committees. However, it extended the deadline for setting up these committees from January 10 to January 20 and also pushed the last date for submission of proposed fees by school managements from January 25 to February 5.
India–Switzerland Economic Dialogue at Davos Signals New Push for Cross-Border Growth 16
India and Switzerland signalled a renewed push for cross-border economic cooperation at a high-level dialogue held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, underscoring growing momentum in bilateral and EFTA-wide engagement.
The event, titled “Grow With India: Beyond Borders”, was hosted by Vis Legis Law Practice in collaboration with Swiss Business Hub India, and brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, institutional leaders and global business stakeholders to explore investment, trade facilitation and job creation across borders.
Opening the session, VLLP Managing Partner Nihaar Binda Thackeray stressed the importance of institutional trust, regulatory clarity and strong advisory frameworks to convert emerging opportunities into executable outcomes.
Dr. h.c. Nik Gugger, Member of the Swiss Federal Parliament and President of the Swiss–India Parliamentary Group, reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with India. Switzerland Global Enterprise highlighted India’s growing role as a manufacturing and innovation hub, while the Swiss Business Hub India outlined opportunities arising from the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and EFTA nations.
The dialogue concluded with a shared consensus that aligned policy frameworks, robust institutions and a nuanced understanding of political and regulatory risk will be critical to driving sustainable and long-term cross-border growth between India, Switzerland and other EFTA partners.
'Insult to Maharashtra': Congress, NCP (SP) Slam Padma Bhushan for Former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari 18
Congress and NCP (SP) leaders on Monday strongly criticised the decision to confer the Padma Bhushan on former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, calling it an insult to the state and its people.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said Koshyari’s tenure from September 2019 to February 2023 was marked by repeated controversies and actions that, he claimed, demeaned a constitutional office and hurt public sentiment. Speaking after attending the Republic Day function at the Congress office, Sapkal said he had even declined an award from a social organisation in Pune as it was to be presented by Koshyari.
Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad alleged that the BJP had a history of insulting Maharashtra’s revered leaders and constitutional icons. She said Koshyari had earlier made remarks perceived as disrespectful to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, adding that honouring him with a Padma award was “an insult to Maharashtra”.
Echoing the criticism, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Koshyari had repeatedly made controversial statements that hurt the sentiments of Maharashtrians. Awarding him the Padma Bhushan reflected the BJP’s “arrogance of power” and disregard for Maharashtra’s history and cultural pride, he alleged.
Koshyari had earlier faced criticism for describing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as “an icon of the olden times”. His tenure also saw frequent run-ins with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray, who had accused the former governor of being overactive and of not filling 12 vacant seats in the state Legislative Council despite recommendations from the elected government.
From Operation Sindoor to Indigenous Missiles, India Showcases Military Power at 77th Republic Day 20
India marked its 77th Republic Day on Monday with a grand parade that showcased the country’s cultural diversity, economic progress and growing military strength, including indigenous missiles, frontline weapon systems and platforms deployed during Operation Sindoor.
President Droupadi Murmu took the salute at Kartavya Path, accompanied by chief guests António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, marking a significant diplomatic moment alongside the military display. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, senior ministers, top military leadership and foreign diplomats were among those present.
While the overarching theme celebrated 150 years of Vande Mataram, Operation Sindoor featured prominently, reflecting India’s recent operational preparedness. The parade highlighted the country’s strategic autonomy, with Russian-origin platforms displayed alongside US-manufactured systems.
Among the major weapon systems on display were BrahMos supersonic missiles, Akash air defence systems, the Suryastra universal rocket launcher, Main Battle Tank Arjun, Dhanush artillery guns and the Divyastra battery. A tri-services tableau recreated key elements of Operation Sindoor, including a glass-cased integrated operational centre depicting the use of BrahMos and S-400 systems during the May 7–10 conflict with Pakistan.
Before the parade began, President Murmu conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station last year.
For the first time, the Army showcased a phased ‘Battle Array Format’, including aerial components, mechanised columns and Special Forces units, along with robotic dogs and unmanned ground vehicles. Newly raised Bhairav battalion, a specialised assault infantry unit, also made its debut.
The Indian Navy and Air Force contingents added to the spectacle, with naval and aviation tableaux underscoring the theme of a strong military for a strong nation. A fly-past by Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft in the ‘Sindoor Formation’ drew loud applause.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation unveiled its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM, capable of engaging both static and moving targets. In all, 30 tableaux representing states, Union Territories and central ministries rolled down Kartavya Path, blending patriotism with India’s rapid progress.
Nearly 10,000 special guests from diverse backgrounds witnessed the celebrations, as India reaffirmed its unity, resilience and rising military prowess on its 77th Republic Day.
