A senior political figure in the Indian state of Maharashtra has been killed in a fatal aircraft accident. The official was returning to his electoral district when the plane crashed during a landing attempt, resulting in a fire. There were no survivors among those on board.
The state government has announced a three-day period of official mourning following the tragedy. The politician, who served multiple terms as the state’s deputy chief minister across different administrations, was laid to rest with state honours in his hometown, drawing large crowds of mourners.
The deceased was a long-standing and influential member of a major regional party, originally founded by a close relative. His career was marked by a significant and controversial political realignment in recent years, when he led a faction to join the ruling coalition at the state level, a move that caused a major split within his original party and reshaped the local political landscape.
His sudden death is anticipated to create considerable uncertainty within the state’s political arena. It raises immediate questions regarding leadership succession within his political faction and the future dynamics between the divided wings of his former party, which had recently seen discussions about a potential reconciliation.