Mumbai: Political leaders across party lines expressed grief over the demise of Union minister Ananth Kumar (59) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Monday. The veteran BJP leader and parliamentary affairs minister breathed his last at a private hospital in the Karnataka capital after battling lung cancer for several months, said hospital authorities.

In his condolence message, Union minister for water resources Nitin Gadkari said that his “close friend” Kumar had played an important role in expanding the party base in Karnataka, his home state. Mr Gadkari said, “He performed very well working as a minister in various portfolios and left an impeccable imprint with his work. I feel that I have lost a young brother from my family. His sudden death is a huge loss to me. May his soul rest in peace.”

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his last respects saying he was “shocked and deeply pained” by Kumar’s “untimely” demise.