Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Baramati on 3 November to inaugurate 'Prernasthal' and unveil a 9-foot-tall, 4-tonne statue of Gautam Buddha at the Vidya Pratishthan campus, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar confirmed on Saturday. The visit, rescheduled from an earlier date of 24 October, follows a communication update from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Revised Schedule and Key Events

According to Sharad Pawar, who is the President and Founder of Vidya Pratishthan, Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive at Baramati airport at 10:00 a.m. and proceed directly to the Vidya Pratishthan campus. The centrepiece of the visit will be the inauguration of 'Prernasthal' and the unveiling of the 4-tonne Gautam Buddha statue, which depicts the Buddha in a specific 'hastamudra'.

The Prime Minister will also walk through an art enclosure surrounding the statue, which features 5.9-foot paintings of prominent social reformers, visionary leaders, and historical figures who shaped Maharashtra and India. These include Ahilyabai Holkar, Savitribai Phule, Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Sayajirao Gaekwad, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, Annabhau Sathe, Yashwantrao Chavan, and Shardabai Pawar.

AI Institute Visit and Student Interaction

Modi is also scheduled to inspect the newly-established Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute at Vidya Pratishthan during his visit. He will view a technical presentation and interact directly with students demonstrating AI initiatives and youth-led startups, reflecting the campus's push toward technology-driven education.

This component of the visit is notable: Baramati — long identified as Sharad Pawar's political stronghold — is positioning Vidya Pratishthan as a hub for emerging technology, a signal of the institution's broader ambitions beyond traditional academics.

Formal Programme and Speeches

The formal address segment is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on the main grounds. Speakers will include Vidya Pratishthan Vice President Pravin Prabhune, Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister is expected to conclude his scheduled events and depart by approximately 12:10 p.m.

High-Profile Guest List

Pawar confirmed that invitations have been extended to a range of political leaders, industrialists, and dignitaries. The confirmed guest list includes Maharashtra Governor, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Members of Parliament Supriya Sule and Parth Pawar, representatives of Microsoft, the head of Oxford University, Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute of India, Baba Kalyani of Bharat Forge, Vijay Shirke, Dr Anil Kakodkar, and Vivek Sawant of Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd.

The gathering is being closely watched, given that Pawar's NCP(SP) and Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sit on opposite sides of the political aisle — making the Prime Minister's presence at Vidya Pratishthan a moment of cross-partisan significance ahead of Maharashtra's ongoing political realignments. All eyes will be on whether the visit carries implications beyond the ceremonial.