India, June 5 -- Former Maharashtra minister and six-time Congress MLA Anantrao Thopte passed away at a private hospital in Pune on Thursday. He was 93.

A veteran politician from Pune district, Thopte remained an influential figure in state politics for several decades. He was admitted to a private hospital nearly a month ago following age-related ailments and had been undergoing treatment.

Thopte represented the Bhor Assembly constituency six times and was known for his independent political standing. For much of his political career, he was considered a rival of senior leader Sharad Pawar in Pune district politics. Along with late Congress leader Ramkrishna More, Thopte played a key role in shaping the political landscape of Pune dist...