Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil passed away at the age of 90 on Friday in his hometown of Latur, Maharashtra, following a brief illness.

Patil, who also served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, had a distinguished political career, holding several important Union Cabinet positions and winning the Latur Lok Sabha seat seven times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on X, stating, “Saddened by the passing of Shri Shivraj Patil Ji. He was an experienced leader, having served as MLA, MP, Union Minister, and Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha during his long years in public life.”

Shivraj Patil is survived by his son Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana (a BJP leader), and two granddaughters, leaving behind a family deeply engaged in public service.

During his career, Patil held several key positions, including Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008 and the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 1996. He later served as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015.

Patil began his political journey at the local level as the municipal council chief of Latur before being elected as an MLA in the early 1970s. Known for his calm demeanor and dignified conduct, he was respected across party lines.

A scholar at heart, Patil was admired for his extensive reading, analytical skills, and clarity of communication. Fluent in Marathi, Hindi, and English, he was widely recognized for his deep understanding of constitutional matters, earning him a reputation as one of the most respected parliamentarians of his era.