<p>Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday condoled the death of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and said he was a popular leader who stood for deprived and weaker sections of the society.</p>.<p>NCP chief Sharad Pawar and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief over the death of the veteran politician and paid rich tributes to him.</p>.<p>The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder, one of the most prominent Dalit leaders of the country, died on Thursday in a Delhi hospital at the age of 74.</p>.<p>Koshyari said Paswan was one of the most popular leaders from Bihar and enjoyed strong mass support.</p>.<p>He had the distinction of serving as a Union minister in various governments and handling different portfolios ably, the governor said.</p>.<p>"We have lost a great parliamentarian and a popular leader," Koshyari said.</p>.<p>Thackeray said Paswan was connected with ordinary people all through his long political career.</p>.<p>The country has lost a leader who stood for deprived and weaker sectionsof the society, the CM said.</p>.<p>Pawar also expressed grief over Paswans death.</p>.<p>Saddened to hear about the demise of Shri Ramvilas Paswan. He was a veteran leader and founder of Lok Janshakti Party.</p>.<p>"I had a long association with him as a Parliamentarian. My sincere condolences to his family. RIP, Pawar tweeted.</p>.<p>In Nagpur, Gadkari, a Union minister, said Paswan had an important contribution in upliftment of the poor, deprived and underprivileged sections of the society.</p>.<p>Gadkari tweeted, "I am numbed by the news of passing away of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. My emotional tributes to him.</p>.<p>"Paswanji had an important contribution in the development of poor, deprived and underprivileged. May the Lord Grant peace to his soul and strength to his family," said the BJP leader.</p>
<p>Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday condoled the death of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and said he was a popular leader who stood for deprived and weaker sections of the society.</p>.<p>NCP chief Sharad Pawar and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari also expressed grief over the death of the veteran politician and paid rich tributes to him.</p>.<p>The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder, one of the most prominent Dalit leaders of the country, died on Thursday in a Delhi hospital at the age of 74.</p>.<p>Koshyari said Paswan was one of the most popular leaders from Bihar and enjoyed strong mass support.</p>.<p>He had the distinction of serving as a Union minister in various governments and handling different portfolios ably, the governor said.</p>.<p>"We have lost a great parliamentarian and a popular leader," Koshyari said.</p>.<p>Thackeray said Paswan was connected with ordinary people all through his long political career.</p>.<p>The country has lost a leader who stood for deprived and weaker sectionsof the society, the CM said.</p>.<p>Pawar also expressed grief over Paswans death.</p>.<p>Saddened to hear about the demise of Shri Ramvilas Paswan. He was a veteran leader and founder of Lok Janshakti Party.</p>.<p>"I had a long association with him as a Parliamentarian. My sincere condolences to his family. RIP, Pawar tweeted.</p>.<p>In Nagpur, Gadkari, a Union minister, said Paswan had an important contribution in upliftment of the poor, deprived and underprivileged sections of the society.</p>.<p>Gadkari tweeted, "I am numbed by the news of passing away of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. My emotional tributes to him.</p>.<p>"Paswanji had an important contribution in the development of poor, deprived and underprivileged. May the Lord Grant peace to his soul and strength to his family," said the BJP leader.</p>