The Aryavarth Express
Latur (Maharashtra): Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil passed away at his residence in Latur on Friday morning. He was 90. Patil had been unwell for the past few days and breathed his last at home.
Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur village of Latur district, Patil was regarded as one of the stalwarts of Indian politics. His public life spanned more than four decades, during which he held prominent roles in Parliament, the Union Government, and the Maharashtra Legislature.
A veteran of the Indian National Congress, Patil served as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha and held several key responsibilities throughout his political career. He entered national politics in 1980 as a first-time MP in the 7th Lok Sabha and went on to represent his constituency for seven consecutive terms until 2004.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he served on and later chaired the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament. Patil also worked extensively across various ministries, serving as Minister of State for Defence, Commerce, Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development, Bio-Technology, Personnel and Training, Administrative Reforms, Public Grievances and Pensions, Defence Production, Civil Aviation, and Tourism.
Patil was appointed Union Home Minister in 2004, a position he held until 2008. He resigned on November 30, 2008, taking moral responsibility for the security lapses surrounding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
From 2010 to 2015, he served as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, further cementing his legacy in public administration. He is also credited with instituting the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award to recognise exemplary performance in the legislature.
Before rising to national prominence, Patil served two terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1972–1979), where he held significant posts including Chairman of the Public Undertakings Committee, Deputy Minister for Law and Judiciary, Irrigation and Protocol, and later Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the State Assembly.
Shivraj Patil is remembered as a seasoned parliamentarian and an influential figure who left a lasting impact on Indian governance and legislative processes.
