In this special broadcast, India Today pays tribute to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar following his tragic demise in an air crash in Baramati. The discussion features insights from Sahil Joshi, Managing Editor and Mumbai Bureau Chief, who reflects on Pawar’s three-decade-long political journey. The speakers describe Pawar as a ‘complex character’ and a ‘very efficient administrator’ who was known for his directness and deep connection with the people of Baramati. The bulletin highlights his transition from being in the shadow of Sharad Pawar to seeking his own political identity, including his recent hints at a potential NCP merger. ‘He did not pretend to be some political saint or sadhu,’ noted the speaker, emphasizing Pawar’s candid ambition to become Chief Minister. The programme explores the vacuum left in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the uncertain future of Maharashtra’s political landscape following this sudden loss, while also recalling Pawar’s personal interests in cricket and old Hindi film music.
