Mumbai: Senior Congress veteran and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil passed away on Friday morning (December 12) at his residence in Latur, Maharashtra. He was 91. The seasoned leader breathed his last around 6:30 am, marking the end of a towering political legacy that shaped several chapters of India’s parliamentary history.
Patil had an illustrious five-decade career, holding some of the highest constitutional and administrative roles in the country. He served as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, a key figure in the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi governments, and later became Union Home Minister during the first UPA administration from 2004 to 2008.
A seven-time Lok Sabha MP from Latur, Shivraj Patil dominated the constituency through the 1980s and 1990s, winning consecutive elections across seven terms. Though he lost the 2004 election to BJP candidate Rupatai Patil Nilangekar, his stature in national politics remained significant.
Patil’s tenure as Home Minister coincided with the tragic 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, after which he resigned, taking moral responsibility amid widespread criticism.
Beyond Parliament, he also served as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015, continuing his public service with calm leadership and administrative experience.
Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur village of Latur district, Patil completed his science degree from Osmania University and later studied law at Bombay University during 1967–69. His political roots began in Maharashtra, where he served two terms as an MLA before moving to national politics.
