The mortal remains of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic air crash on Wednesday, will be taken out in a decorated chariot for his Antim Yatra.
The chariot, adorned with flowers, bears Ajit Pawar’s image along with a board reading “Swargiya Ajitdada Pawar amar rahein” (Long live Ajit Dada Pawar).
The funeral procession will begin at 9 am from Vidya Pratishthan—an educational institution founded by the Pawar family—in Baramati, and will pass through the town to allow people to pay their last respects.
The procession will culminate at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where the last rites will be performed at 11 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, leaders from across the political spectrum, and people from all walks of life are expected to attend the funeral.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, slogans such as “Ajit Dada amar rahe” and “Ajit Dada parat ya” (Long live Ajit Dada, come back Ajit Dada) echoed through the premises as the mortal remains were brought to Vidya Pratishthan.
People standing on both sides of the road were seen getting emotional and breaking down as the vehicle decked with flowers reached the institute.
Ajit Pawar (66), the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was travelling to Baramati to attend a rally for the Zilla Parishad elections when his chartered aircraft crashed and went up in flames on Wednesday morning.
The Learjet aircraft had been cleared for landing at Baramati after executing a go-around due to poor visibility. However, after receiving final clearance, it failed to give a read-back to air traffic control (ATC) and moments later burst into flames near the edge of the runway.
Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and their two sons, Parth and Jay.