Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader Shivraj Patil passed away on Friday morning at the age of 90. He breathed his last at his residence Devghar in Maharashtra’s Latur after being unwell for the past several days. His funeral is expected to take place on Saturday.
Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur village of Latur district, Patil emerged as one of the most influential leaders in Indian politics. His public life began at the grassroots level when he served as the president of Latur Municipality from 1966 to 1970. He later became an MLA for two terms in the Maharashtra Assembly, where he held key positions including Deputy Speaker and Speaker between 1977 and 1979.
A Long and Distinguished Parliamentary Career
Shivraj Patil entered the Lok Sabha in 1980 after winning from the Latur constituency. He represented the seat for seven consecutive terms till 2004, and also served as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. He briefly lost the seat to the BJP’s Rupatai Patil Nilangekar in the 2004 general election.
Over the span of his four-decade-long career, Patil handled several crucial portfolios including Defence, Commerce, Science and Technology, and later became the Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008. He stepped down from the post following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Patil also served as a Rajya Sabha member, chaired parliamentary committees including the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs (1980–1990), and held the role of Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.
He is survived by his son Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana, and two granddaughters.
Condolences Pour In
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over Patil’s demise, calling him “an experienced leader who was passionate about contributing to society.” PM Modi recalled his interactions with Patil, including a recent meeting a few months ago. “My thoughts are with his family in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” he posted on X.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Patil as a “statesman of great dignity” who made significant contributions to India’s democratic institutions. He added that Patil’s passing was a deep personal loss and a loss for the Congress party.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the news “extremely heartbreaking” and said Patil’s lifelong commitment to public service would always be remembered.
