Senior Congress leader Shivajirao G. Patil dead at 92

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and father of actress Smita Patil, Shivajirao Patil, passed away here on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 92. Patil was a former MP and also a former member of the Maharashtra Legislature and the state cabinet. Patil was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2013. He was a member of the Maharashtra ministries headed by Vasantrao Naik, Shankarrao Chavan and Vasantdada Patil. Patil was a member of the Rajya Sabha during 1992-98, an MLC from 1960 to 67 and an MLA for three consecutive terms from 1967 to 1980. "Patil represented a generation, which was socially aware," NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, condoling the leader's death. "He never let go of his commitment to cooperative movement and democratic ideology," Pawar said. Former Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly Dilip Walse Patil said, "Maharashtra and our country has suffered a great loss with the demise of Shri Shivajirao Patil today. My deepest condolences to his family."