Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Tragedy: The Architect of Maharashtra's Budgets, Key Announcement Over The Years

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash News: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Anantrao Pawar, along with four others on board a chartered aircraft, died after it crash-landed at Baramati airport on Wednesday, January 28, confirmed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The sixty-six-year-old, one of Maharashtra's longest-serving politicians and a seasoned financial strategist, was widely regarded as a key figure in the state's cooperative movement and often described as the backbone of rural Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar holds the record for presenting the highest number of budget proposals in Maharashtra. He presented the state budget for the 11th time in March 2025 and was supposed to present it for the 12th time this year.

Ajit Pawar News: Key Budget Announcements By Ajit Pawar

Over the past few years, Ajit Pawar has presented budgets focusing on agriculture, industry, transportation, healthcare, and human resource development. Here are the key budget announcements made by Ajit Pawar.

In 2021, Ajit Pawar presented a budget on International Women's Day. He dedicated it to the women of Maharashtra.

In 2022, Ajit Pawar had presented a budget on the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, dedicating it to his bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to Swarajya. VAT on CNG was reduced from 13.5% to 3%. Amnesty schemes for GST and Stamp Duty will be launched. He had also announced a special program for accelerating economic growth of the state called "Panchsutri of Development", according to PRS Legislative research.

Ajit Pawar had presented the Maharashtra's Budget 2024-25 which included a significant allocation for the state's flagship welfare scheme, Ladki Bahin Yojana. Under Mukhya Mantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana the state government will provide Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women aged between 21 and 60 years.

In Maharashtra's Budget 2025-26, Ajit Pawar had made key announcements like a new industrial policy, an increase in motor vehicle tax, etc.

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. His tragic death has marked the end of decade of politics in Maharashtra.

In 1982, Ajit Pawar began his political career after being elected to the board of a cooperative sugar factory. In 1991, he was elected as the chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from the Baramati Parliamentary constituency and later vacated the seat for his uncle Sharad Pawar. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seven times from the Baramati Assembly constituency. He first won in a 1991 by-election and subsequently in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014.