Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Wednesday officially added the birth anniversary of the late former Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Anantrao Pawar, to the state’s official list of birth anniversaries of national heroes and great personalities to be celebrated in 2026.

The decision was formalised through a government circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on July 15, 2026.

According to the government resolution (GR), the state will celebrate the late leader’s birth anniversary on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The mandated tribute involves offering floral garlands to his portrait in all designated public institutions.

The GR directs that these commemorative programmes must be held across all state ministry departments and administrative offices, government and semi-government offices throughout Maharashtra, and all state schools and colleges.

The GAD has directed all Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors to issue necessary guidelines and strictly monitor the implementation of these tribute events within their respective jurisdictions.

The directive follows the tragic passing of the long-serving mass leader, Ajit Pawar, earlier this year in January 2026. Before his demise, he served as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister for six terms, marking an unprecedented legacy in the state’s political history.

Earlier, senior ministers Chagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif on Tuesday, in a representation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urged that the late Ajit Pawar’s birth anniversary on July 22 be included in the official list of commemorative programmes in government offices.

The two leaders stated that the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar made a significant contribution to Maharashtra’s social, political and developmental journey. Considering his dedicated service to the people and his pivotal role in the state’s progress, they urged the government to include July 22 in the list of officially observed birth anniversaries for 2026.

They further requested the Chief Minister to issue the necessary revised government circular at the earliest and direct all government and semi-government offices, as well as schools and colleges across the state, to observe the birth anniversary in accordance with the revised list.

–IANS

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