Mumbai: The death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday has brought ongoing administrative and political work in the state to an abrupt pause. Known for his fast-paced functioning, Pawar was overseeing key policy decisions across multiple departments at the time of his death.
Pawar, 66, was serving as Deputy Chief Minister while also holding charge of the Finance, Planning, and Excise portfolios. His absence has left a gap at a time when the state administration was preparing for budgetary decisions and local body elections.
Record Tenure in the Finance Department
Ajit Pawar was among Maharashtra’s most experienced finance ministers, having presented 11 state budgets over the years. He was in the process of preparing his 12th budget, which would have placed him one short of Sheshrao Wankhede’s record of 13 budgets.
His budgets were marked by a balance between fiscal discipline and welfare expenditure. Infrastructure investment and rural-focused allocations remained central themes during his tenure, even during periods of economic strain.
Pawar was widely regarded as a firm financial administrator, credited with sustaining growth while mobilizing resources for long-term projects. During his stewardship, Maharashtra regained its position as the leading state in foreign direct investment inflows.
Pending Policy Initiatives Across Departments
Beyond finance, several proposals were awaiting decisions under Pawar’s charge. A key proposal involved expanding the Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana, with a plan to increase the monthly allowance for beneficiaries from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100.
He was also closely monitoring the Pune–Nashik high-speed rail project, particularly land acquisition and funding arrangements. In parallel, Pawar was pursuing the recovery of Maharashtra’s pending GST dues from the Centre.
In the energy sector, he was working towards statewide implementation of the Chief Minister Solar Krishi Vahini Yojana 2.0, aimed at ensuring daytime power supply for farmers.
Focus on Local Body Elections
Pawar had been actively preparing for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections scheduled for February 5. Strengthening the Nationalist Congress Party’s position in regions such as Pune, Nashik, Raigad, and Beed was a central part of his strategy.
Special development funds had recently been released to zilla parishads to address rural road and water issues. In Baramati and the surrounding areas, booth-level committees were directly coordinated by Pawar.
Details related to the incident are available in the earlier report on the crash.
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