Ajit Pawar cleared Rs 350 crore for Ashram school teachers on final working day

Ajit Pawarrsquos last day at the Mantralaya followed a familiar rhythm of duty and decisionmaking According to the Deputy Chief Ministerrsquos Office DCMO Ajit Pawar spent nearly seven hours at Mantralaya on Tuesday chairing backtoback meetings that included a police review a state revenue review the cabinet meeting and discussions with Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisDressed in his trademark white kurtapyjama Pawar arrived at Mantralaya at 810 amA senior aide from the DCMO said Pawar was particular about punctuality and disciplineldquoSir has been particular about punctuality and timing for his work I was here to greet him in his office and assist with his work as he was in and out of review meetings and the cabinet meetingrdquo the official saidDeserted corridors at Mantralaya on Wednesday as officials left for Baramati following the news of Ajit Pawarrsquos deathPawar chaired a police briefing between 9 am and 930 am followed by a detailed review of revenue collection across the state from 930 am to 11 amOn Wednesday the atmosphere at the DCMO office on the sixth floor of Mantralaya was starkly differentThe usually busy corridor stood deserted with most officials having left for Baramati after news of Pawarrsquos death broke Only a handful of staff remained behind sitting quietly in a small room watching the news unfold on televisionPointing to a stack of files lying on a table official said ldquoSir had a hectic as usual day yesterday Tuesday These were the last bunch of files he studied and approved We just now pulled them out to see what our day was like yesterdayrdquoldquoWe feel very sad and nostalgicrdquo the official added tearing up and then breaking down in his office chair Pawar signed over 30 files on Tuesday according to information shared by the DCMO with midday on Wednesday afternoonPointing to the topmost file on the pile with Ajit Pawarrsquos signature at the bottom of the first page an official said ldquoWe discussed how this one is likely the file he signed on He wanted to review this issue and had asked for it at his official residence when he was leaving It now has his signaturerdquoPawar approved a significant amount authorising the release of salaries of Ashram school teachers pending for six months the DCMO told midday adding that it is Rs 350 crore When asked for details about the final issue that received his stamp of approval the official said in tears ldquoFor you this is your work but for me I have lost my boss who we looked up to and loved This is a shock and we are grieving You can pursue decisions and information about work another dayrdquo At the end of Wednesday the file was sent to the finance department from where funds are to be released an official confirmed late on WednesdayPawar left from Mantralaya for Devgiri his official residence at 3 pm on Tuesday after meeting with the Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisldquoWe did not expect today Wednesday to unfold this way It should have been another day of work as was routinerdquo one of the officials added Pawar was scheduled to attend three rallies in Baramati and was then scheduled to leave for Pune He was expected to return to his office in Mantralaya onFebruary 9