Former Minister Mahadev Jankar Reveals Close Call with Baramati Plane Crash

Mahadev Jankar's Narrow Escape from Tragedy

Mahadev Jankar, a former minister from Maharashtra, has disclosed that he was scheduled to travel with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on the day of the tragic plane crash in Baramati last week. However, due to his late arrival in Mumbai, he was unable to join Pawar on the flight.

On January 28, around 8:45 AM, a chartered aircraft crashed at the Baramati airport in Pune district, resulting in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four others who were traveling from Mumbai.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Jankar, who leads the Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP), mentioned that he had spoken with Pawar shortly before the accident and was invited to travel to Baramati on the same flight. He expressed regret, stating, 'Unfortunately, I arrived late in Mumbai, which prevented me from flying with Ajit Pawar to Baramati.'

He described the incident as a deeply unfortunate event, emphasizing that Pawar's passing is a significant loss for the state. Jankar, a leader of the Dhangar (shepherd) community, heads the RSP, which holds influence in several districts across western Maharashtra, Vidarbha, and Marathwada. He previously served as the Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries in the BJP-led government in 2016.