Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday paid a glowing tribute to late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, describing him as “the best chief minister Maharashtra never had”.

Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session, Fadnavis said the state had lost a towering leader and an exceptional administrator, whose sudden death in a plane crash last month had created a political vacuum that would be difficult to fill.

“Ajitdada and I share the same birthdate, though he was 11 years senior to me. He was my dada in the true sense. Ajitdada was the best CM Maharashtra never had,” Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister noted that Pawar served as Deputy Chief Minister a record six times and possessed all the qualities required to lead the state. “There is political arithmetic behind many decisions, and destiny might have fulfilled his wish someday. Ajitdada was always punctual, but this time his timing went wrong,” he said, referring to the January 28 plane crash near the Baramati airstrip in Pune district.

Fadnavis praised Pawar for his transparent personality, work ethic and straightforward nature, saying he was never politically correct but always stood by what he said and implemented his decisions without hesitation.

After the ruling Mahayuti alliance suffered losses in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Pawar travelled extensively across the state to reconnect with the masses, the CM said.

Recalling political events of 2019, Fadnavis said Pawar was a leader who honoured his commitments. “We decided to form a government together and took the oath. However, after a court order went against us, Ajitdada discussed the situation with me and returned to his original party,” he said, referring to the brief two-day government before the Maha Vikas Aghadi came to power.

Calling Pawar an outstanding finance minister, Fadnavis said he would have presented his 12th budget this year and would have broken the record of late Sheshrao Wankhede by presenting 13 budgets next year.

The Chief Minister said Pawar pushed through the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, despite concerns raised by the finance department about its impact on the state exchequer.

“I always spoke of the NCP as a strategic partner, but Ajit Pawar was a close friend,” Fadnavis said, adding that Pawar never hesitated to apologise publicly if he felt he was wrong.

He also recalled Pawar’s personal habits, including his fondness for turmeric milk, his disciplined lifestyle, and his meticulous preparation for meetings. “He always came well prepared, with detailed notes,” Fadnavis said.

On January 27, Pawar attended cabinet and infrastructure committee meetings and raised concerns over the lack of gross value addition in capital expenditure. “None of us imagined it would be our last meeting with him,” the CM said.

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Fadnavis also paid tributes to former ministers Surupsing Naik, Shalinitai Patil, Raj Purohit and Gangadhar Patne, as well as former MLAs Nilkanth Phalak, Vishwas Nandekar and Rooplekha Dhore, who passed away recently.