Mumbai, July 9 (IANS). The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislature party on Thursday requested the Maharashtra government to recommend the name of late NCP national president and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for the prestigious Padma Vibhushan (posthumous) award.
NCP’s Chief Whip in the State Assembly, Chetan Vitthal Tupe Patil, on behalf of all the party members in the Assembly and Legislative Council, has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding immediate action in this matter.
This demand has arisen after the plane crash that took place near Baramati on January 28, 2026, in which the senior leader died.
In his letter dated July 8, Chetan Tupe said Pawar served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times and made significant contributions to the development of the state. On this basis, a demand has been made to recommend his name for the Padma Vibhushan award posthumously.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chetan Tupe said that he has requested the Chief Minister to recommend the name of the late former Deputy Chief Minister of the party for the posthumous Padma Vibhushan award.
In a letter written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the late leader has been described as an efficient administrator and a leader who took decisions in the public interest. It has been said in the letter that he made a special place in the hearts of the people on the basis of his work and leadership.
“During his long tenure as finance minister, Pawar presented a record number of state budgets. He played a key role in taking forward road, metro, irrigation and other infrastructure projects. Took several decisions to provide relief to farmers and also made significant contributions to strengthening the state’s cooperative banking and sugar industry,” Tupe said.
Tupe further said that the NCP legislature party believes that Pawar has worked tirelessly to ensure that the benefits of the government’s welfare schemes reach the common people without any hindrance.
NCP leaders described the late leader’s demise as ‘the end of an era’. The party says that it will be a matter of pride for the entire Maharashtra to posthumously award him Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award. NCP has demanded the Mahayuti government to send a formal recommendation in this regard to the Central Government soon.
–IANS
SHK/DKP