Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil passed away on Friday morning at his residence in Latur, Maharashtra. He was 90. Family sources said Patil died at his home, ‘Devghar’, following a brief illness.

Patil is survived by his son Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana, who is associated with the BJP, and two granddaughters. His demise marks the end of a long political career that spanned several decades and key constitutional positions.

Long public life spanning legislature and governance

Born on October 12, 1935, Shivraj Patil began his political journey at the grassroots level as the municipal council chief of Latur. He entered the Maharashtra legislature as an MLA in the early 1970s before moving to national politics.

Patil went on to represent the Latur Lok Sabha constituency seven times. However, he faced defeat in the 2004 general elections when he lost the seat to BJP leader Rupatai Patil Nilangekar.

Between 1991 and 1996, Patil served as the 10th Speaker of the Lok Sabha, a role in which he earned wide respect for maintaining parliamentary decorum. He later held the crucial portfolio of Union Home Minister from 2004 to 2008.

Respected parliamentarian and constitutional expert

Apart from his legislative roles, Shivraj Patil also served as the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh from 2010 to 2015. Party leaders recalled that he was known for his dignified conduct and restraint, rarely engaging in personal attacks either in public speeches or private interactions.

He was widely regarded as a scholar-politician, with a strong command over Marathi, English and Hindi. His deep understanding of constitutional matters and his articulate presentations in Parliament made him a respected figure across party lines.

The Election Commission has revised the timeline for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in six regions, while keeping the schedule unchanged for West Bengal, Goa, Lakshadweep and Rajasthan. The SIR exercise, aimed at removing inaccuracies and updating voter lists, will now continue for longer in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Revised dates for voter roll revision

According to the Election Commission, the enumeration period has been extended as follows:

• Tamil Nadu and Gujarat: Till December 14
• Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Till December 18
• Uttar Pradesh: Till December 26

The publication of draft rolls will now be:

• December 19 for Tamil Nadu and Gujarat
• December 23 for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• December 31 for Uttar Pradesh
  

Meanwhile, the SIR period concluded today in Goa, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and West Bengal, with no extension granted.

As West Bengal heads towards a crucial election expected early next year, the voter list update process has become part of a broader political narrative between the NDA and Opposition parties, especially after the Bihar polls.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, sharpening her attack on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, called on women to stand up against any attempt to remove their names from the electoral roll. Addressing a gathering in Krishnagar, she alleged that the process was being misused to target voters ahead of elections.

Mamata accuses BJP of trying to intimidate women voters

Banerjee questioned the removal of names from the voter list under the SIR exercise, asserting that mothers and sisters of the state should not allow such actions to go unchecked. She said women possess the strength and the everyday tools used at home, urging them to be ready if their rights were undermined.

She alleged that attempts would be made to influence the electoral process by bringing police from outside the state and using fear tactics. Banerjee added that during elections, efforts were often made to divide people and misuse money power.

Reaffirming her stance on secularism, she said she wanted to see whether the women of Bengal or the BJP were “more powerful” in this fight.