The untimely demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar in a tragic plane crash has plunged the state and the cooperative sector into deep mourning. At the Maharashtra State Cooperative (MSC) Bank, a condolence meeting was held at its Mumbai headquarters, where Administrative Board Chairman Vidyadhar Anaskar, along with officials and employees, paid homage to Ajit Pawar. Nitin Jadhav Patil, Chairman of Satara District Central Cooperative Bank, said Maharashtra had lost a guiding pillar of leadership and expressed his heartfelt tribute to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar. Dr Sanjay Hosmath, Director of the Karnataka State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation, said Ajit Pawar was the heartbeat of the cooperative movement, successfully bridging grassroots farmers and state governance. Former IFFCO Managing Director Dr U.S. Awasthi said Ajit Pawar’s contributions towards strengthening the cooperative sector would always be remembered.