Supporting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s demand for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said the circumstances surrounding the incident must be made clear.

Referring to past incidents involving prominent figures, Yadav said similar deaths of VIPs had raised serious concerns earlier as well. “He was a senior leader and very popular. If such an incident can happen to a VIP, then it should be clear how it took place,” he said, backing Banerjee’s call for an independent probe.

Earlier, Yadav expressed grief over Pawar’s death, calling the incident extremely tragic and extending condolences to the bereaved family. He said he prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Ajit Pawar died after a private aircraft carrying him and four others crashed near Baramati in Maharashtra on Wednesday morning. All five people on board were killed in the crash.

Leaders across party lines expressed condolences following the incident. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said he prayed for strength for the grieving families, while BSP chief Mayawati described Pawar’s death as deeply heartbreaking and extended sympathies to his family and party colleagues.

Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee questioned the circumstances of the crash while speaking to the media during her journey to Singur for a public rally. She said the incident raised serious questions and asserted that only the Supreme Court could be trusted to oversee a fair investigation, alleging that investigative agencies had lost their independence.

Calling Pawar’s death a major loss for the country, Banerjee also noted that he was an influential political figure at the national level.

According to flight tracking data, the aircraft — a Learjet 45 operated by a private charter service — took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at around 8.10 am. The jet disappeared from radar shortly before landing while approaching Baramati airport after circling to align with the runway.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati on Tuesday morning. Reports indicate that four others, possibly including the aircraft crew and Pawar’s security personnel, were also killed in the accident.

The small aircraft took off from Mumbai around 8 am and crashed near Baramati airport while attempting to land approximately an hour later. Pawar was scheduled to attend four significant public meetings as part of his campaign ahead of the local body polls.

Visuals from the scene showed smoke and fire, with the wreckage of the plane scattered near the runway. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, although initial reports confirm multiple fatalities. Details regarding the cause of the crash are still awaited.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the state, as Ajit Pawar was a prominent political figure and key campaigner for the upcoming elections.

Party leadership discusses political situation, organisational strengthening and outreach plans as preparations for the 2026 assembly elections gather pace

Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday held a high-level strategy meeting with senior leaders of the West Bengal unit in Durgapur, signalling the party’s intensified push ahead of the state assembly elections.

The meeting focused on reviewing the current political situation in West Bengal, strengthening the party organisation and chalking out future strategies to expand the BJP’s presence across the state.

Senior leaders present at the discussions included Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, former state president Dilip Ghosh, Dr Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha.

Following the meeting, Dr Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha told media persons that the BJP would step up public outreach programmes and reinforce its grassroots organisational structure in the coming weeks. They expressed confidence that the party is moving steadily towards forming the government in West Bengal this year.

Nabin’s visit marks his first trip to the state since assuming charge as the BJP’s national president. His two-day tour includes a review of election preparations, organisational meetings and participation in public programmes aimed at energising party workers.

On Wednesday, Nabin is scheduled to offer prayers at the Bhiringi Kali Mandir in the morning before addressing the BJP Karyakarta Sammelan of the Bardhaman division at the Chitralaya Mela Maidan in Durgapur. He will later address the Asansol district BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in Raniganj.

As part of its election preparations for the 2026 assembly polls, the BJP has also finalised a list of Prabasi leaders from several states to strengthen its campaign across different regions of West Bengal, including Nabadwip, Kolkata and the Howrah–Hooghly–Midnapore belt.

The list comprises senior leaders, legislators, former ministers, organisational office-bearers and youth leaders deputed from states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Tripura. These leaders will work in coordination with the West Bengal unit to oversee organisational activities, election readiness and grassroots mobilisation in their assigned districts.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal on January 30 and 31. During his two-day tour, Shah is expected to hold key organisational and political meetings to review preparations and boost party morale ahead of the upcoming electoral challenges.