Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil Chakurkar passed away on Friday morning at his residence in Deoghar, Latur, Maharashtra. He was 91 years old and had been undergoing treatment at home for several days, according to the reports. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar described his demise as the loss of a cultured and diligent personality.

In his condolence message, Ajit Pawar lauded Chakurkar’s lifelong commitment to public service, describing him as a symbol of simplicity and moral values. During his extensive political career, Chakurkar held several key positions, including Union Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, and Governor of Punjab, consistently upholding ethics in politics.