File Picture: ANI
Veteran Congressman Shivraj Patil, who served as the Lok Sabha Speaker and was Union Home Minister during the 26/11 attacks, passed away at his hometown Latur in Maharashtra on Friday morning, family sources said.
Patil, 90, passed away at his residence ‘Devghar’ after a brief illness, they said, adding his funeral will be held on Saturday. He is survived by his son Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana, who unsuccessfully contested the assembly polls last year on a BJP ticket against Congress’ Amit Deshmukh from Latur city, and two granddaughters.
Patil remained a Congress and Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist till his last days and held several key constitutional and ministerial posts during a public life spanning more than five decades.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and many others offered condolences and paid tributes to Patil.
Born on October 12, 1935, Patil began his political journey as the president of Latur municipality between 1966 and 1970 and was subsequently elected as an MLA for two terms. He held key posts in the Maharashtra assembly, including Deputy Speaker and Speaker, between 1977 and 1979.
He then went on to win the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times and was the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. He lost to BJP’s Rupatai Patil Nilangekar in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. He was also a Rajya Sabha member.
The Congress leader held several key portfolios in the Union Cabinet, including Home, Defence, Commerce, and Science and Technology. Patil was the Governor of Punjab and also served as Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.
In 2022, speaking at a book launch, he courted controversy for claiming that the concept of “jihad” was present not just in Islam but also in the Bhagavad Gita and Christianity.
In March 2025, he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi with his family.
Calling Patil a distinguished parliamentarian and statesman, Fadnavis said his demise was deeply saddening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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… pic.twitter.com/muabyf7Va8
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2025
Devendra fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister
ज्येष्ठ नेते आणि लोकसभेचे माजी अध्यक्ष शिवराज पाटील चाकूरकरजी यांच्या पार्थिवाचे लातूर येथे अंत्यदर्शन घेतले आणि त्यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली अर्पण केली. यावेळी त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांची भेट घेत त्यांचे सांत्वन केले. त्यांच्या जाण्याने झालेल्या दुःखातून सावरण्याची शक्ती ईश्वर… pic.twitter.com/hMtcfWrHlu
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 12, 2025
Sharad Pawar, NCP( SP) president
देशाचे माजी गृहमंत्री आणि ज्येष्ठ नेते शिवराज पाटील चाकूरकर यांच्या निधनाचे वृत्त अत्यंत वेदनादायी आहे. काँग्रेसची विचारसरणी आणि जनतेच्या समस्या सोडवण्याचा ध्यास यांचा प्रभावी संगम साधत त्यांनी राज्याच्या तसेच देशाच्या राजकारणात मोलाची भूमिका बजावली. विविध राजकीय पदांवर कार्यरत… pic.twitter.com/sa3cGp1QHn
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) December 12, 2025
Rahul Gandhi, leader of Oppostion , Lok Sabha
पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री और वरिष्ठ कांग्रेस नेता शिवराज पाटिल जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है और पार्टी के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है।
जनसेवा के प्रति उनका समर्पण, राष्ट्र के लिए उनके योगदान हमेशा याद किए जाएंगे।
इस दुख की घड़ी में मेरी संवेदनाएं पूरे पाटिल परिवार, उनके…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 12, 2025
