Pune, Jan. 28 -- Union Minister of State (MoS) Murlidhar Mohol on Wednesday expressed profound sadness over the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, calling it an irreparable loss to the state's political and social life.

Recalling his association with Ajit Pawar, Mohol said, "I'm truly at a loss for words right now. I worked with him for many years, and this is a profound shock. He was a popular leader from Maharashtra who had carved a unique identity for himself in the state's politics over the past four decades. He was known as a public representative with a strong grip on administration."

"I remember working with him in this city for 2.5 years during the COVID crisis. He was the president of the state's Olympic as...