Manohar Joshi, former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena veteran, passes away

In a statement, the hospital said Joshi (86), a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and he is severely ill. “Manohar Joshi, Ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was admitted at PD Hinduja Hospital on 21st February 2024. He suffered a cardiac event and is severely ill. He is currently in the ICU under close observation and receiving best of medical care,” the statement said.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. (Express archives)

The 86-year-old Shiv Sena veteran was admitted to the same hospital in May last year after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Manohar Joshi served as chief minister from 1995 to 1999 and was the first leader from the undivided Shiv Sena to occupy the top post in the state. He was also elected as a Member of Parliament and was the Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004 when the Vajpayee government was in power.

Reacting to the news, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was a member of the Maharashtra ministry when Joshi was the CM, said the state had lost a “cultured face” of politics.

महाराष्ट्राचे माजी मुख्यमंत्री आणि लोकसभेचे माजी अध्यक्ष ज्येष्ठ नेते मनोहर जोशी सरांच्या निधनाचे वृत्त ऐकून अतिशय दुःख झाले. सरांच्या निधनाने महाराष्ट्राच्या राजकारणाचा सुसंस्कृत चेहरा हरवला. अतिशय नम्र, हजरजबाबी आणि महाराष्ट्र तसेच मराठी माणूस यांच्याविषयी मनापासून तळमळ असलेला…

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 23, 2024

Joshi’s family said his last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar area.

Born on December 2, 1937 in coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, Joshi obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) in Mumbai.

His political career began with his involvement in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and he later became a member of the Shiv Sena. In the 1980s, Joshi emerged as a key leader within the Shiv Sena, and was known for his organisational skills.

He was and was the Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002 to 2004 when the Vajpayee government was in power. The former Union minister was married to Anagha Joshi, who died in 2020 at the age of 75. He is survived by a son and two daughters.

Joshi began his career as a teacher and entered politics in 1967. He was associated with the Shiv Sena for more than four decades.

Manohar Joshi meet Balasaheb Thackarey at Matoshree. (Express archive)

He was a municipal councilor in Mumbai during 1968-70 and Chairman, Standing Committee of the Mumbai municipal corporation in 1970. He was the Mayor of Mumbai during 1976-1977.

He was then elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1972. After serving three terms in the Legislative Council, Joshi was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1990 and was the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly during 1990-91.

In the 1999 general elections, Joshi won from the Mumbai North-Central Lok Sabha Constituency as a Shiv Sena candidate, and was later Union minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

(With inputs from PTI)