Who Was Shivraj Patil? Former Home Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker Dies at 90

Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil died Friday morning at his home in Latur, Maharashtra. He was 90. Patil died at his residence, “Devghar,” after a brief illness, according

to family members, PTI reported, citing family sources.He is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil; daughter-in-law, Archana, a BJP leader; and two granddaughters.Patil served as India’s Home Minister from 2004 to 2008 during the United Progressive Alliance government. Before that, he was the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. He later served as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.Born on October 12, 1935, Patil began his public life as chief of the municipal council in Latur. He entered state politics in the early 1970s when he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Patil went on to win the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times, becoming one of the region’s most prominent political figures. His long electoral run ended in 2004 when he lost to BJP candidate Rupatai Patil Nilangekar.Throughout his career, Patil was regarded as a dignified and soft-spoken leader who avoided personal criticism in both public and private settings, a Congress leader said. Colleagues frequently noted his calm demeanor, patience and adherence to parliamentary norms.Patil was also known for his scholarly approach to public life. He was widely read and took a meticulous interest in legislative detail, earning respect across party lines. His command of Marathi, Hindi and English, along with a deep understanding of constitutional issues, made him a widely admired parliamentarian.