Shivraj Patil, former Union Home Minister, passes away at 91 in Maharashtra
Born on 12 October 1935 in Chakur village in Latur district of Maharashtra, Shivraj Patil was an important figure in Indian politics; He was remembered for his long and distinguished career marked by various important responsibilities in Parliament, Union government and state legislatures.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil breathed his last in Latur today, December 12, 2025. He was 91 years old. According to reports, Patil passed away around 6:30 am at his home in Latur, where he was under home care due to prolonged illness.
In his illustrious political journey, Shivraj Patil has held many important positions, including the Lok Sabha Speaker and various key positions in the Union Cabinet. Patil won the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times.
Shivraj Patil: His life and career
Born on 12 October 1935 in Chakur village in Latur district of Maharashtra, Shivraj Patil was an important figure in Indian politics; He was remembered for his long and distinguished career marked by various important responsibilities in Parliament, Union government and state legislatures. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, he served as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha and held numerous important positions in public life for over four decades.
Patil entered national politics in 1980 by being elected to the 7th Lok Sabha for the first time and retained the seat for seven consecutive terms until 2004. He served on the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament between 1980 and 1990, and later became its Chairman. His tenure in Parliament was marked by his extensive work across ministries, serving as Minister of State in a wide range of departments including Defence, Commerce, Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Space and Ocean Development, Bio-Technology, Personnel and Training, Public Complaints and Pensions, Administrative Reforms, Defense Production, Civil Aviation and Tourism. In addition to his duty as an MP, he was appointed as Union Home Minister (2004-2008).
Following the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, he resigned on 30 November 2008, taking moral responsibility for the security breaches. Patil served as Governor of Punjab and Union Territory Administrator of Chandigarh between 2010 and 2015, further expanding his contribution to public administration. He is also known for presenting the Outstanding Member of Parliament Award, a recognition intended to honor exemplary parliamentary performance. Before coming to prominence in national politics, Patil was a two-term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1972-1979), during which he held important positions, including Chairman of the Public Undertakings Committee, Deputy Minister of Law and Judiciary, Irrigation and Protocol, and later Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
(With inputs from ANI)
