Maharashtra: Senior Congress Leader Shivraj Patil Chakurkar Passes Away at 90

Latur, 12th December 2025: Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil Chakurkar passed away at the age of 90 at his residence in Latur. Patil, regarded as a scholar-politician with an unimpeachable public image, had been unwell for the past few days. He is survived by his son, daughter, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

A lawyer by profession, Patil began his political journey in the Latur Municipal Council before moving to national politics. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the Latur constituency in 1980 and went on to win seven consecutive terms till 1999, emerging as one of the Congress party’s most influential parliamentarians of his era.

During the governments of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Patil served as Minister of State across key portfolios including Defence, Commerce, Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Electronics and Space. He later became the Speaker of the 10th Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996, a tenure marked by reforms such as the modernization and computerization of parliamentary procedures, live telecast of Lok Sabha proceedings and the establishment of a new Parliament library building.

Born in Chakur in Latur district, Patil studied science at Osmania University and law at Mumbai University. His early political work between 1967 and 1969 at the Latur Municipality laid the foundation for a long parliamentary career. He also represented India in multiple parliamentary conferences abroad and held significant roles within the Congress organisation, including chairing the manifesto committee under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership.

Despite losing the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Patil was appointed Union Home Minister in the UPA government. He resigned on 30 November 2008, taking moral responsibility following the Mumbai terror attacks.
Patil later served as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015. He was instrumental in instituting the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award and was widely known as a devoted follower of Sathya Sai Baba.

Fluent in Marathi, Hindi and English, Patil had largely stepped away from active politics in recent years and spent his time studying the Bhagavad Gita. With nearly five decades of legislative and administrative experience, he leaves behind a significant legacy in Indian parliamentary history.