Congress slams BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for giving BBMP bed scam 'communal twist'

On this India Today special report, host Rajdeep Sardesai leads a discussion on the sudden and untimely demise of NCP leader Ajit Pawar. Sardesai reflects on the leader's work ethic, stating, 'I remember doing an interview with him in Baramati... at 6:30 in the morning; I was blurry-eyed but he was fresh.' The panel, featuring Clyde Crasto, Sudhir Suryavanshi, and Daniel Francis, explores Pawar's reputation as a 'people's man' and a 'permanent Deputy Chief Minister' who served under various ideologies. A significant revelation is made regarding an imminent merger between the two NCP factions that was reportedly on the cards before his passing. The discussion highlights his unique ability to maintain a secular identity while being part of the NDA, and the massive political vacuum his death leaves in Maharashtra's administrative and grassroots landscape.

On this news bulletin, Rajdeep Sardesai leads a critical discussion on air safety following a tragic Learjet 45 crash at Baramati airfield involving a VVIP's family. Sardesai raises urgent questions, asking, 'Is an uncontrolled small airfield like Baramati an accident waiting to happen?' The panel, featuring Captain Sam Thomas, Sanjay Lazar, and Captain Amit Singh, examines the absence of a mayday call, the impact of low visibility, and the potential for 'cognitive lockup' under VVIP pressure. The discussion scrutinises the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its regulatory audits and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for delayed reports. Experts highlight the lack of navigational aids at small airfields and the need for international standards in crash investigations. The programme underscores the systemic challenges facing India's rapidly growing aviation sector and the necessity for structural reforms within the regulator to ensure passenger safety.

This special report reflects on the political journey and administrative legacy of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar. Described as a 'genuine regional mass leader with a ear to the ground', Pawar was a six-time Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra known for his administrative efficiency and tough decision-making. The report traces his career from his 1982 entry into a sugar cooperative to his long-standing representation of the Baramati bastion. It highlights his 2023 decision to break away from his uncle Sharad Pawar's shadow to establish his own leadership. Despite his ambition to become Chief Minister, the report notes he remained 'always the bridesmaid, never the bride'. The bulletin emphasizes his commitment to a secular ideology, citing his reverence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. The programme concludes that his passing leaves a significant void in the state's political landscape and within the NCP, which has lost a proven administrator and a leader of substance.

On this special report, India Today examines Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s political stature and the impact of his leadership on the state.