Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra's Deputy CM, died in a plane crash on Jan. 28, 2026, creating a leadership crisis in his NCP faction.

On January 28, 2026, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar passed away in an aircraft accident, creating a significant leadership void within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). His faction, which broke away from Sharad Pawar's group in 2023 and joined the BJP-led government, is currently facing succession issues because neither senior leaders nor family members have a clear heir. Despite conflicting election outcomes and internal strife, the death has heightened rumors of a possible merger between the two NCP factions. There is still uncertainty surrounding the party's future, its partnership with the BJP, and the impending local elections.