Maharashtra leaders on Monday (February 23, 2026) paid emotional tributes to late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in an air crash on January 28, as the Legislature moved a condolence motion on the opening day of the Budget session.
“Ajit Pawar was the best Chief Minister Maharashtra never had,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, recalling their long association first as political rivals and later as colleagues in the government. He described Mr. Pawar as a capable administrator and a leader deeply passionate about public life.
Minister Aditi Tatkare, Ajit Pawar’s nephew and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar became visibly emotional while offering their condolences. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were among those who spoke. Speaker Rahul Narvekar proposed that a memorial to Mr. Pawar be set up in the Legislature.
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Young legislators said he would sit through Assembly proceedings until the last speech to listen carefully to newcomers— a gesture they said had meant a great deal to them. Referring to his four-decade-long political career, members spoke about his early hardships, including losing his father at a young age, and how that shaped his personality.
