Ajit Pawar, four others die in plane crash
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Ajit Pawar Dies in Learjet Crash Near Baramati Airport
Was Ajit Pawar a corrupt scamster who mocked farmers or Maharashtra's most dedicated public servant?
Above: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at his residence in Pune, India, on Jan. 13, 2026. Image credit: Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Ajit Pawar built a career on corruption and arrogance, presiding over a massive irrigation scam that left India's Maharashtra state parched while he mocked drought-stricken farmers. His shameful suggestion to urinate in empty dams exposed the grotesque power-drunk mindset of a criminal who filled his pockets while rivers dried up. The BJP's coercion merely confirmed what everyone knew — Pawar's entire political existence depended on escaping accountability for massive theft from the people.
Right narrative
Ajit Pawar was Maharashtra's most dedicated public servant, winning every election for over three decades through genuine connection with voters and unmatched administrative excellence. His record six terms as deputy chief minister under nine different leaders proved his indispensable value to the state's governance. The tragic loss of this legendary figure robs Maharashtra of a leader who worked tirelessly for the people and deserved the chief minister position he never received.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0