BARAMATI, Jan. 29 -- News of Ajit Pawar's violent end struck at the heart of Baramati early on Wednesday. Usually marching to the beat of buses, traders, farmers and political workers on the move, the town, stronghold of deputy chief minister Pawar, was hushed by grief. Shops were partially shuttered, tea stalls deserted, and people milled about in disbelief, in small groups near hospitals, cooperative institutions and public spaces. The mood on Wednesday mirrored the deep, personal bond residents shared with Pawar, who had dominated Baramati's public life for over three decades. For many, Pawar's death felt like the loss of a family member rather than that of a politician. On roads leading into the town, banners put up for the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections loomed awkwardly over the streets, at odds with the mood of mourning. Locals felt the posters should be replaced with condolence messages. At village chowks and outside cooperative offices, people stood quietly, staring at images of Pawar, struggling to accept the finality of the loss. "I have seen him here since my childhood," said Tukaram Shinde, an elderly farmer near Bhigwan Road. "For us, Ajit Pawar was Baramati." The sense of shock cut across age and occupation. Women paused their morning chores to exchange updates, college students sat silently on benches, and sugar factory workers lingered outside gates, uncertain about beginning their shifts. Grief was visible everywhere. Some residents wept openly, while others remained numb. Many recalled how Pawar would arrive in villages without prior notice, question officials on the spot and speak directly to farmers. "He scolded officers, but work happened," said a shopkeeper. Political flags were lowered, and staff at cooperative institutions observed silence. Even workers from rival parties paid their respects, acknowledging Pawar's central role in Baramati's political and civic life. By noon, crowds gathered outside the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College and General Hospital, where Pawar's body was brought. Roads leading to the hospital quickly filled with party workers, farmers, students and women with children, all waiting quietly for updates. His wife, MP Sunetra Pawar, and cousin, MP and NCP leader Supriya Sule, travelled to Baramati, along with other family members. Police tried to regulate the swelling crowd as grief continued to draw people in. When members of the Pawar family and NCP leaders, including Rohit and Rajendra Pawar, arrived, the crowd made way silently, united in mourning. Later in the evening, Pawar's body was shifted to the Vidya Pratishthan ground, a space closely intertwined with Baramati's public and political life, where thousands gathered to pay their last respects. Ajit Pawar's association with Baramati ran deep. First elected to the Lok Sabha from the constituency in 1991 at the age of 32, he went on to represent the region repeatedly in the state assembly, building an unmatched political base. Over the years, Baramati became both his power centre and his political laboratory. Pawar went on to be elected eight times to the Maharashtra legislative assembly from Baramati - first in a 1991 by-election and later in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014, 2019 and 2024 - and held several key roles, including minister for important departments and deputy chief minister. Under his stewardship, the once semi-rural town emerged as one of the most developed regions in Pune. Large-scale irrigation projects transformed agriculture, road connectivity improved, and investments in education led to the establishment of schools, colleges and professional institutes. Hospitals, cooperative sugar factories, dairy units and small industries strengthened the local economy and generated employment. Baramati also became synonymous with the cooperative movement in western Maharashtra, with both Pawars - the other Pawar being Ajit's uncle and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar - playing a key role in strengthening farmer-run institutions and ensuring steady political support across villages. In 2024, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis lauded Pawar's contribution to the development of Baramati. While referring to the construction of new buildings for the police department in Baramati, Fadnavis remarked, "They do not look like government buildings, they look like corporate offices. Thanks to Pawar's initiative, these new buildings will add to Baramati's development. I will take Ajit Dada's help for constructing other buildings for the police, though I will continue to hold the portfolio of home." Even in recent months, Pawar was actively involved in shaping Baramati's next phase of growth. Among the projects he was overseeing were the Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, a Rs.325-crore ayurvedic college and hospital, and the Rs.650-crore Shivsrushti cultural landmark aimed at celebrating regional heritage and boosting tourism. For the people of Baramati, Ajit Pawar was not merely a leader who represented them - he was a constant presence who shaped the town's politics, economy and identity over generations. His absence has left a void that many here say will be difficult to fill....