Mumbai, Feb. 22 -- The crucial Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature will begin on Monday, but it will unfold without former Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar, whose sudden demise in a plane crash last month has left a deep void in state politics and his absence is expected to be strongly felt during the proceedings.
Ajit Pawar, who had represented Baramati as an MLA a record eight times since 1991, lost his life in a Learjet crash at his hometown Baramati in Pune district on January 28. Known as an efficient administrator and a forthright leader with a sharp sense of humour, he maintained cordial relations across party lines. The impact of his passing is likely to resonate in the House during the session.
The Bud...