Devendra Fadnavis : 'Brother, you missed the time...' says Fadnavis emotionally
In Baramati today, in an extremely mournful atmosphere, the state's Deputy Chief Minister Ajitdada Pawar was laid to rest. Yesterday morning, Ajit Pawar passed away prematurely in a horrific plane crash near Baramati, casting a pall of grief over the entire Maharashtra. The sentiment of losing a capable administrator, a dynamic leader, straightforward in nature but very generous at heart, is being expressed everywhere. During the funeral in Baramati, tears flowed freely. Thousands of workers, citizens, leaders, and supporters bid their final farewell, chanting “Ajitdada Amar Rahe”.
The news of Ajitdada's demise spread across the state like wildfire, and no one could believe it. Everyone, from his colleagues to ordinary workers, was stunned. Many had tears in their eyes, while many were sobbing. Putting aside political differences, leaders from all parties expressed deep sorrow over Dada's passing.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed in words the feeling of losing a very close friend. “A noble, generous, straightforward, and dynamic friend is lost,” said Fadnavis emotionally. Through an emotional article, he reminisced about memories with Ajit Pawar and expressed the turmoil in his heart.
‘Brother, you missed the timing…’
In an article written by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he used emotional words addressing Ajit Pawar, saying “Brother, you missed the timing.” The two had met on January 27 for a cabinet meeting. The shocking news came out the very next morning. From that moment, he did not hide the turmoil and surge of emotions he felt.
Fadnavis wrote that after the cabinet meeting, an infrastructure committee meeting was held in his office. As the Finance Minister, Ajit Pawar always took care of the state's treasury. He always took a strict stance on spending on infrastructure, timely completion of projects, and quality in public works. “Keep giving such good news in every meeting,” said the brother who made such remarks, and no one thought he would not be with us the next day.
‘The mind was not ready…’
Even after hearing the news of the plane crash, it was hard to believe something so terrible would happen, Fadnavis wrote. Until the doctors said something, the mind was not ready to believe the bad news. But finally, that heart-wrenching news came. “I lost my close, strong, and generous friend,” he said, noting that this void will never be filled.
Friendship Beyond Politics
The friendship between Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis was beyond the framework of politics. Both having their birthdays on the same day, a shared love for cricket and music, and late-night conversations—these memories made Fadnavis emotional. “Dada was the same inside and out. He never had two faces,” he wrote firmly.
After discussions on serious topics, Dada's open-hearted, humorous nature would come to the fore. No matter how much tension there was, he had the art of lightening the atmosphere with jokes. He was extremely meticulous about construction quality. Often, even at six in the morning, he would personally go to inspect the site.
Irreplaceable Loss for Maharashtra
While sharing a humorous memory from a flight, Fadnavis wrote, “I have a track record, nothing happens when I am on a plane,” he had told Dada. But destiny played a different game. “I lost a very close associate who was deeply connected to the ground. This is not only my personal loss but also a great loss for Maharashtra,” the Chief Minister paid tribute to Ajit Dada in these words.
This final farewell given in Baramati today was not just to a leader, but to an era. Ajit Dada's memories, his work, and his imprint will remain alive in Maharashtra's politics.