Veteran Leader Shivraj Patil Passes Away at 90; PM Modi Mourns

New Delhi, December 12, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in expressing grief over the passing of veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil. Patil, a towering figure in Indian politics with a distinguished career spanning over four decades, passed away at his home in Latur, Maharashtra, on Friday after a brief illness. He was 90.

The Prime Minister took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to offer his condolences and pay tribute to the late leader. “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,” PM Modi wrote.

Highlighting Patil’s dedication to public welfare, the Prime Minister added, “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.”

A Long and Distinguished Public Life

Born on October 12, 1935, in Chakur village of Maharashtra’s Latur district, Shivraj Patil’s political journey was marked by a steady rise from local governance to key national positions. He began his public life as the municipal council chief of Latur.

His impactful career included:

• Maharashtra Assembly: He served two terms as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (1972-1979), holding positions such as Deputy Minister for Law and Judiciary, Irrigation and Protocol, and later as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the state Assembly.
• National Politics: Patil entered the national arena in 1980, winning the Latur Lok Sabha seat for the first time. He retained the constituency for seven consecutive terms until 2004.
• Key Ministerial Roles: Over the decades, he held a vast range of portfolios as Minister of State in the Cabinets of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, working across Defence, Commerce, Science and Technology, Space, Ocean Development, Civil Aviation, and Personnel and Training.
• Lok Sabha Speaker: He served with distinction as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996, a period during which he notably introduced the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award.
• Union Home Minister: Later, he served as the Union Home Minister in the UPA government from 2004 to 2008. He resigned from this post following the tragic 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, taking moral responsibility for the security failures.
• Governor: From 2010 to 2015, he was the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Tributes Pour In

Tributes for the late leader have poured in from across the political spectrum, acknowledging his dignified, cultured, and scholarly personality.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences, calling Patil a “seasoned leader” who “contributed significantly to India’s progress.” Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remembered him as a “dignified, cultured, and scholarly personality” whose career set a “benchmark in public service,” highlighting his simplicity and ethical approach to politics. NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule paid tribute, calling him a “towering national leader” and a “soft-spoken, respectful statesman” whose legacy would endure.

Shri Patil was known for his vast reading, meticulous study, and an exceptional grasp of constitutional matters, making him a much-respected parliamentarian. He is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil, and other family members.

The passing of Shivraj Patil marks the end of an era in Indian public life, leaving a void in the political landscape that will be difficult to fill.