Mumbai, Leaders across the political spectrum celebrated Raksha Bandhan in Maharashtra with much fanfare, but the festivities also carried a deeply emotional note, with NCP MP Supriya Sule remembering her late cousin and then Deputy CM Ajit Pawar with a heartbreaking message.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the love and blessings of "ladki bahin" are his greatest strength!
"The sentiments in the hearts of my dear sisters from Maharashtra were conveyed to me by MLC Chitra Tai Wagh. I wholeheartedly accept their boundless love and blessings. Your blessings will continue to give me greater strength and inspiration to take the work of public service to its fulfilment.
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"I firmly believe that a brother should not only protect his sisters but also pledge to empower them. Living a lifetime indebted to the love of millions of sisters in Maharashtra, my resolve is to keep working to make every sister self-reliant and empowered," Fadnavis said in a post on X.
Extending wishes on Raksha Bandhan, Sule wrote an emotional post on X remembering Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash on January 28.
"Today is Raksha Bandhan... but this time, you're not with us, and this realisation is making my heart deeply restless. That horrific morning seven months ago and your sudden departure... even today, I can't bring myself to believe it," she stated.
{{/usCountry}}"Today is Raksha Bandhan... but this time, you're not with us, and this realisation is making my heart deeply restless. That horrific morning seven months ago and your sudden departure... even today, I can't bring myself to believe it," she stated.
{{/usCountry}}Sule shared childhood memories of sibling love, growing up together, fights, and love.
"Even now, it feels like you'll suddenly appear from somewhere, let me tie the rakhi on you, chat and laugh with your sisters, and immerse yourself back into the family...," Sule said.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also extended his wishes on the occasion. He said the bond between a brother and sister is based on love and trust.
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