India, Feb. 24 -- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday led leaders cutting across party lines in paying tributes to the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on the first day of the Budget session of the State legislature, saying he was "the best CM the State never had".

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the late NCP leader as an "elder brother" and said he, Fadnavis, and Pawar were like an "equilateral triangle," being close to each other.

On January 28, Deputy CM Pawar and four others died in a plane crash in Pune's Baramati town.

In a glowing tribute to Pawar in the Assembly on the first day of the legislature's Budget session, Fadnavis said the State has lost a towering leader and administrator.

Pawar's shocking ...