Veteran NCP leader Vasant Davkhare passes away

Veteran NCP leader and former Deputy Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Vasant Davkhare, passed away on Thursday night at Bombay Hospital. He was 68.

Davkhare was one of the trusted aides of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. "He was a close colleague of mine and his relations cut across party lines," Pawar said.

In a Facebook post, national spokesperson of Nationalist Congress Party, Nawab Malik said that Davkhare's last rites will be performed in Thane today. He informed that the last darshan of the deceased leader will take place in Thane between 11 am to 1 pm while the funeral is scheduled at 3 pm.

Davkhare was first elected as corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1986. A year later, in 1987, he was elected as Mayor of Thane Municipal Corporation. He is a five-term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council and has served as Deputy Chairman for several years.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered his condolences to the family on Twitter. He tweeted, "Saddened to know about the demise of Former Deputy Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Shri Vasant Davkhare ji. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and followers.

In 1999, when Pawar was expelled from the Congress, he too quit and joined the NCP as a founder member.

The 68-year-leader is survived by sons Prabodh, who a businessman, and Niranjan, an MLC representing the Konkan Graduates constituency.