Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Manohar Joshi, Passes Away at Age 86; Last Rites to be Held Today at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park
Manohar Joshi, the former Lok Sabha Speaker and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, passed away at the age of 86. He had been receiving treatment at Mumbai’s PD Hinduja Hospital and peacefully breathed his last in the early hours of Friday.
According to his family, Joshi succumbed to age-related health issues at 3 am. His last rites will be held at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar at 3 pm, preceded by a gathering at his residence from 11 am to 2 pm.
Joshi had been admitted to the hospital’s ICU on Wednesday due to severe illness. This was not his first hospitalization; he had previously been admitted last year after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
A stalwart of the Shiv Sena, Joshi served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999, marking the first time a leader from Shiv Sena held this position. Additionally, he served as a Member of Parliament and held the esteemed position of Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004 during the tenure of the Vajpayee government.
Born on December 2, 1937, in Maharashtra’s coastal Konkan region, Joshi earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the renowned Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) in Mumbai.
Joshi’s political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), after which he became a prominent member of the Shiv Sena. Throughout the 1980s, Joshi gained recognition for his organizational acumen and emerged as a key figure within the party.
He was married to Anagha Joshi until her passing in 2020 at the age of 75, leaving behind a son and two daughters.
Joshi’s career transitioned from teaching to politics in 1967, marking over four decades of dedicated service to the Shiv Sena.
From 1968 to 1970, he served as a municipal councilor in Mumbai. In 1970, he became the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Mumbai municipal corporation. Additionally, he held the position of Mayor of Mumbai from 1976 to 1977.
In 1972, he secured a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council through election. Following three terms in the Legislative Council, Joshi transitioned to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1990, assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition from 1990 to 1991.
During the 1999 general elections, Joshi successfully contested from the Mumbai North-Central Lok Sabha Constituency under the banner of Shiv Sena. Subsequently, he held the position of Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Expressing condolences for Joshi’s passing, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who served alongside him in the Maharashtra ministry, remarked that the state mourned the loss of a distinguished figure in politics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over Manohar Joshi’s demise, describing him as a seasoned leader who tirelessly worked for Maharashtra’s advancement. Modi also acknowledged Joshi’s significant contributions as a Union Minister.
A journalist remembered when Joshi canceled the SSC exam after the journalist uncovered a widespread leak of question papers.
Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray, and Uddhav Thackeray also expressed their condolences over Joshi’s passing.
For similar news update stay tuned and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
Explore the Latest in: Cricket News | Sports News | National News | Celebrity News | Technology Updates
