Shivraj Patil Dies At 90: Resigned After 26/11 Attacks, Clothing-Change Criticism, ‘Bahu’ Joined BJP

Shivraj Patil passed away at the age of 90 on December 12, 2025, at his residence in Latur, Maharashtra. The former Union Home Minister died after suffering from long-standing health issues. According to the politician’s family, the senior Congress leader had been unwell for some time, and due to age-related health issues, he breathed his last on Friday. As soon as the news of his demise made its way to the public, a series of Indian politicians shared their deepest condolences on their respective social media handles.

Shivraj Patil Dies at 90: President, Prime Minister, and senior political leaders release formal condolence statements

From President Droupadi Murmu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and all major leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed sorrow over Shivraj Patil’s demise. While some labelled him a “prominent public figure”, most highlighted his passion for contributing to society’s welfare. Losing a political figure like Shivraj is indeed a loss for Indian politics, but his presence will be deeply missed in the Congress party and Maharashtra politics.

Shivraj Patil’s colleague and close friend, Ghulam Nabi Azad, also reacted to the passing of his longtime friend, looking extremely emotional. For the uninitiated, Shivraj and Ghulam Nabi had been friends for the past 45 years, and it was heartbreaking for him to bid farewell to his family-like friend. He penned an emotional note in memory of Shivraj Patil, lauding him for who he was in real life and admitting that his loss is immense. Ghulam Nabi’s tweet can be read as:

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Shivraj Patil Ji. We were colleagues for a long time, worked closely as Union Ministers & he was also a family friend for over 45 years. Honest, soft-spoken, and deeply dignified, his loss is immense. My heartfelt condolences to his family. RIP!”

Inside Shivraj Patil’s political career: The architect of parliamentary traditions and long-standing public service

Talking about Shivraj Patil’s political career spanning over five decades, he held multiple prominent roles and made a steady influence in national affairs. He was a 7-time MP from Latur, who also served as the Union Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Governor of Punjab, and Administrator of Chandigarh.

Not only this, but Shivraj Patil also served as an important figure in departments like commerce, science and technology, civil aviation, and defence. Not everyone is aware that he instituted the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award. The politician built a name for himself in the political circle with his parliamentary traditions, commitment, and administrative discipline.

When politics entered the family: Meet Shivraj Patil’s daughter-in-law, Archana Patil, who joined the BJP despite the family’s Congress roots

Moving on to his personal life, Shivraj Patil is survived by his wife, Vijaya Patil, and their two children, Shailesh Patil and Sapna B. Patil. While Shailesh is a politician and businessman, Sapna committed suicide in 2002 at the age of 35. Shailesh is married to Dr. Archana Patil Chakurkar, and they have two daughters. Despite being such a prominent figure in Indian politics, Shivraj always kept his family out of the media spotlight. However, it changed when his daughter-in-law, Dr Archana, shocked everyone by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party on March 30, 2024.

There were unconfirmed rumours on the internet that Shivraj Patil was allegedly furious with his daughter-in-law’s decision to join their eternal rivals, the BJP. Shivraj publicly distanced himself from Dr Archana’s political move, calling it a cautious response to the controversial situation. It was a tricky situation for him to see his daughter-in-law join hands with the BJP, since he had been with the Congress for more than 50 years. However, it’s fair to say that he had handled the situation with great calm.

Here’s why Shivraj Patil resigned after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks

During the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Shivraj Patil faced intense national criticism for what many viewed as a slow and ineffective response from the Home Ministry. The situation worsened when reports emerged that he had changed outfits multiple times during crisis meetings, a detail that quickly became a symbol of indecision and poor crisis leadership. As pressure mounted, he resigned from the post of Union Home Minister, taking moral responsibility for the security lapses that unfolded during one of India’s worst terror strikes.

Just like any human on the face of the planet, there are some infamous moments in Shivraj Patil’s life that helped him transform himself into a major politician as he learnt from his mistakes. It was during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that he received nationwide criticism for his ineffective response from the Home Ministry. Not only this, but he was also spotted changing his clothes multiple times during the security meeting. It left people furious as the odd detail framed him in a negative light. After the attacks, Shivraj resigned as Home Minister, citing a sense of moral responsibility, which speaks volumes about his character.

What are your thoughts on all these interesting anecdotes related to the late Congress leader, Shivraj Patil’s personal life and political career? Let us know.

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