Senior Congress Leader Shivraj Patil Passes Away at 90: A Look at His Distinguished Political Career

Shivraj Patil, a prominent Congress leader and former Union Home Minister, passed away on Friday morning at his residence 'Devghar' in his hometown Latur, Maharashtra, following a brief illness.

The 90-year-old veteran politician is survived by his son Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana (a BJP leader), and two granddaughters.

During his distinguished political career, Patil served as the Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008 and held the prestigious position of the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. He later served as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh between 2010 and 2015.

Born on October 12, 1935, Patil began his political journey at the grassroots level as the municipal council chief of Latur. He was elected as an MLA in the early 1970s before going on to represent the Latur Lok Sabha constituency seven times. His electoral winning streak came to an end when he lost to BJP's Rupatai Patil Nilangekar in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

Party colleagues remember Patil for his dignified conduct and principled approach to politics, never engaging in personal attacks whether in public speeches or private conversations.

His extensive knowledge, thorough preparation, and articulate presentation style earned him widespread respect. Patil's fluency in Marathi, English, and Hindi, combined with his exceptional understanding of constitutional matters, established him as one of the most respected parliamentarians of his era.