"The glory days of BJP in Maharashtra today are due to Mundeji, who ensured the party's spread among the poor and downtrodden," he said here in Beed district of Central Maharashtra.
"I have come here to pay my respects to Mundeji on behalf of crores of BJP workers."
Shah was speaking after inauguration of 'Gopinath Gad', the late BJP leader's memorial, on the occasion of his birth anniversary today.
The BJP chief also praised Fadnavis, who completed one year in office on October 31 as head of the first party-led Government, saying he was doing commendable work.
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"I am sure under his leadership Maharashtra will regain the numero uno spot (in economic sphere). So clean has been the Government under his leadership that the Opposition hasn't been able to level allegation of a single rupee worth of corruption."
Shah used the occasion to highlight pro-farmers initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi Government.
Talking about Munde's family, Shah said his daughters Pankaja, a Minister in Maharashtra, and Preetam, the Lok Sabha MP from Beed, have carried forward the late leader's legacy.
Munde's memorial, which has a 20-feet tall statue of the late leader, has been developed on 18 acres of land here in his home district.
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Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said his Government
has launched an accident insurance scheme named after Munde, who died in a car crash in Delhi in June last year.
A national rural development institute is also being set up in the late leader's memory, Fadnavis said.
The senior BJP leader was holding the portfolio of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in the Narendra Modi Cabinet when he died.
Munde's daughter Pankaja said her father rose from being a sugarcane cutter's son to become founder of a sugar factory and then Deputy Chief Minister of the State (in Shiv Sena-led Government in 1995-99).
When underworld elements held sway (over Mumbai in 1990s), it was Munde who boosted morale of police force as the then Home Minister, she said.