Congress veteran and former Union minister Shivraj Patil died at his residence in Latur, Maharashtra on Friday, December 12. Patil, 90, died at his residence after a brief illness, family sources told the news agency PTI.
A seven-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Latur in Maharashtra, Shivraj Patil also served as Speaker of the Lok Sabhaapart from holding key portfolios in the Union Cabinet during the UPA rule.
Early years and education
Shivraj Patil was a senior Indian politician known for his long tenure in Parliament, key roles in the Union government and his service as Governor. A veteran of the Congress party, Shivraj Patil has held key portfolios in the Union government in a career spanning more than five decades.
Patil was born on 12 October 1935 in Latur district of Maharashtra. Patil studied at Osmania University and trained as a lawyer before entering public life.
Patil began his political journey in the Maharashtra Assembly where he served as Speaker (1978–1980). He has been elected to the Lok Sabha seven times from the Latur constituency, making him one of the prominent leaders from Marathwada in the Congress.
In his political career in the Union government, Shivraj Patil served as Minister of State (Defence) in the 1980s and also as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the 1990s.
He resigned after 26.11
Shivraj Patil became the Home Minister in 2004 despite facing defeat in the 2004 polls by Latur. He eventually became a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Shivraj Patil served as the Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008 in the UPA-I government. His tenure as Home Secretary was marred by several major terrorist attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, after which he resigned.
The Mumbai attack, commonly known as the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was a coordinated series of shootings and bombings carried out by 10 terrorists from Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba between 26 and 29 November 2008. 166 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel and foreigners. Over 300 people were injured.
Shivraj Patil was also the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015. Patil also briefly held the additional post of Governor of Rajasthan in 2011.
Nehru-Gandhi loyalist
Shivraj Patil was often seen as a loyal member of the Nehru-Gandhi family in the Congress. Shivraj Patil’s resignation as Home Minister in 2008 remains one of the highlights of his career. Shivraj Patil retired from active politics after completing his term as Governor in 2015.
Shivraj Patil, who was first inducted into the government under Indira Gandhi as Minister of State for Defense (1980–82), was given the independent charge of the Ministry of Commerce (1982–83). Later, Shivraj was transferred to the Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Sector (1983–84).
In the Rajiv Gandhi government, Shivraj Patil was the Minister for Personnel, Defense Production and later in charge of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
