Bhubaneswar, Jan. 29 -- The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar were performed with full state honours on Thursday in his hometown of Baramati, following his tragic death in a plane crash on Wednesday.

The mortal remains of Ajit Pawar, 66, were brought to his Katewadi residence and later taken to the Vidya Pratishthan ground, where family members and well-wishers gathered to pay their final respects. Pawar's sons, Parth and Jay, lit the funeral pyre and performed the last rites in accordance with family traditions.

A large number of supporters and residents assembled at the venue to pay homage, with many expressing deep sorrow at the loss of the seasoned leader.

Several...