Mumbai: In a move rich with political symbolism, veteran leader Sharad Pawar visited the polluted banks of the Nira river in Baramati shortly after the tragic plane crash death of his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The 85-year-old NCP (SP) chief, who has long mastered the art of visual narratives, inspected the river’s deteriorating condition at Neera Waghja village, expressed visible anger over industrial effluents turning the water greenish and toxic, and demanded swift remedial action from authorities.
While locals briefed him on severe impacts to agriculture, livestock, and public health, Pawar assured prompt intervention. The visit came amid the immersion of Ajit Pawar’s ashes at the confluence of the Nira and Karha rivers nearby, following his untimely demise on January 28, 2026, in a crash near Baramati airport that claimed five lives.
Political observers interpret the outing as a powerful signal: Baramati, the Pawar family’s stronghold nurtured over decades by both uncles and nephews, will not be left “orphaned.” It underscores Sharad Pawar’s continued relevance and decisiveness amid ongoing talks of reuniting the splintered NCP factions post-Ajit’s exit.
Known for past optics — like his rain-soaked 2019 Satara rally that galvanised alliances — Pawar chose action over words during mourning, reaffirming his grip on Maharashtra’s complex political chessboard.
The gesture has surprised some analysts, who expected family-focused grief, but it aligns with Pawar’s style of shaping public perception through ground-level presence rather than statements. As NCP integration discussions intensify, this riverbank walk may mark the patriarch’s return to active manoeuvring.