Former Maharashtra Chief minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar died on Wednesday morning. He was suffering from a brief illness and died at a private hospital in Pune. He was 89.
According to a report of The Indian Express, Nilangekar had contracted the coronavirus but had recovered and been discharged from hospital four days back after testing negative. Sources close to Nilangekar’s family has said he died due to kidney-related complications. His last rites will be performed in Nilanga town in Latur district of Maharashtra later in the Day.
Nilangekar, senior Congress leaders from Latur in Marathwada region, was the state chief minister from June 1985 to March 1986. Nilangekar, a Congress leader, had resigned from the chief minister’s post in 1986 when the Bombay High Court passed strictures against him, in a case related to fraud in the MD examination of 1985. He was accused of using his power to help his daughter and her friend get through the exam.
PM Modi paid his condolences to the lost soul and highlighted his work for the farmers and the poor in Mahrashtra. “Shri Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar Ji was a stalwart of Maharashtra politics. He served the state diligently, especially working for the welfare of farmers and the poor. Anguished by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti: PM,” PMO India tweeted.
Nilangekar’s grand son, Sambhaji Patil is a BJP MLA and was the labour minister of Maharashtra in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.