Prime Minister Modi on Thursday said he was pained by the passing away of veteran politician Sharad Yadav and noted that during his long public life, he distinguished himself as an MP and a minister.
"Pained by the passing away of Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as MP and Minister. He was greatly inspired by Dr. Lohia's ideals," Modi tweeted.
"I will always cherish our interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," the prime minister said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge too paid tributes to the socialist leader, which Kharge said is an irreparable loss to Indian politics.
"Am saddened by the demise of Sharad Yadav, former president of JDU and senior leader of the socialist stream of the country. Serving the country as a former Union minister and an outstanding Parliamentarian for decades, he strengthened the politics of equality," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.
The Congress also tweeted about Yadav's demise and expressed condolences to his family. "The demise of former JDU president, former Union minister and senior socialist leader Sharad Yadav is an irreparable loss to Indian politics," the party said.
Lalu Prasad Yadav pays tribute
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad on Thursday condoled the death of former Union minister Sharad Yadav and asserted that their mutual differences "never resulted in any type of bitterness".
In a video released from his hospital bed in Singapore, Prasad addressed Sharad Yadav was "bade bhai." "He, besides late Mulayam Singh Yadav, Nitish Kumar and myself learnt politics of socialism from Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur," said the septuagenarian.
"On many an occasion, Sharad Yadav and I fought with each other. But our disagreements never led to any bitterness," said the RJD supremo who had held out a helping hand to Yadav when the latter was struggling to come out of a political wilderness.
While Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday said the demise of former Union minister Sharad Yadav was an irreparable loss to Indian politics, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Yadav's legacy will live on.
"I bear a heavy heart upon hearing about Shri Sharad Yadav's demise. A stalwart politician and an immensely respected colleague, his legacy shall live on," tweeted the TMC chief.