Shivraj Patil, former Union Home Minister and a veteran Congress leader, passed away on Friday morning at his home in Latur, Maharashtra. He was 91. Patil took his last breath around 6.30 am after battling age-related health issues for a long time and was being treated at home. 

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During his decades-long political career, Shivraj Patil held several important positions. He served as, Union Home Minister (2004–2008), 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1991–1996), Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh (2010–2015). Visuals from outside his residence showed a big crowd of people and party workers offering their final respects.

PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to former Home Minister Shivraj Patil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the passing of Shivraj Patil, describing him as a leader who was deeply committed to serving the public. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Saddened by the passing of Shri Shivraj Patil Ji. He was an experienced leader, having served as MLA, MP, Union Minister, Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha during his long years in public life. He was passionate about contributing to the welfare of society. I have had many interactions with him over the years, the most recent one being when he came to my residence a few months ago. My thoughts are with his family in this sad hour. Om Shanti.”

Who was Shivraj Patil?

Born on October 12, 1935, Patil started his public life as the municipal council chief of Latur. In the early 1970s, he was elected as an MLA, and from here he kickstarted his bigger political journey. He later won the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times, becoming one of the region’s most prominent leaders. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he lost to BJP’s Rupatai Patil Nilangekar.

In 1980, Patil was elected to the 7th Lok Sabha from the Latur constituency. He won seven consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, and 1999. His winning streak finally broke in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, when he lost to BJP candidate Rupatai Patil Nilangekar.

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In 2008, when the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks shook the country, Shivraj Patil was serving as the Union Home Minister. After the attack, he faced backlash and was criticised for the security lapses that had allowed such a major attack to take place. Patil later accepted moral responsibility for the failures and resigned from his post. He admitted that the system had failed to protect the city under his watch. Patil is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil, his daughter-in-law Archana, who is a BJP leader, and his two granddaughters.

Patil was well-known for being a deep reader and for his careful study of issues on the ground level. He held a strong command over Marathi, English, and Hindi. His understanding of constitutional matters made him one of the most respected parliamentarians of his time. He completed his Science degree from Osmania University in Hyderabad, and later studied law at Bombay University.

Patil came from the Panchamsali Lingayat community. He married Vijaya Patil in June 1963. They had two children. He was also a devoted follower of Sathya Sai Baba.