Former Maharashtra minister Shalinitai Patil, the wife of late chief minister Vasantdada Patil, passed away in Mumbai on Saturday. She was 94, reported the PTI.

Shalinitai Patil held ministerial posts in several Congress-led governments during the 1980s. She rose through the political ranks from being a member of the Satara district council to becoming president of the Congress women’s wing.

During her long public career, she represented Sangli in the Lok Sabha and also served as an MLA from Koregaon. She was known for her strong views and direct style of politics.

Leaders pay tribute

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar described her as a forthright and outspoken leader.

“She criticised me as openly as she conveyed Vasantrao Patil’s message to colleagues, urging them to accept Sharad’s leadership. She never hesitated to express her views,” Pawar said.

He added that Shalinitai Patil was a clear-speaking leader, a scholar of law, and a former minister who left a lasting mark on public life.

राज्याच्या माजी कॅबिनेट मंत्री, माजी खासदार बॅरिस्टर शालिनीताई पाटील ह्यांच्या निधनाचं वृत्त दुःखद आहे. त्या आपली मतं मांडताना कधीही कचरत नसत. जितक्या जाहीरपणे त्या माझ्यावर टीका करत तितक्याच खुलेपणाने “शरदचं नेतृत्व मान्य करा.” हा वसंतदादांचा संदेश शालिनीताई निसंकोचपणे… pic.twitter.com/nbvtUj92KO

— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) December 20, 2025

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said Maharashtra had lost a distinguished personality. “I pay my heartfelt tribute to Shalinitai Patil. By standing firmly by late Vasantrao Patil throughout his life, she made a valuable contribution to social and public life,” he said.

राज्याचे माजी मुख्यमंत्री स्व. वसंतदादा पाटील यांच्या पत्नी तथा माजी मंत्री डॉ. शालिनीताई पाटील यांच्या निधनानं एक कर्तृत्ववान व्यक्तिमत्त्व हरपलं आहे. मी त्यांना भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजली अर्पण करतो.

स्व. वसंतदादा पाटील यांना आयुष्यभर खंबीर साथ देत शालिनीताईंनी सामाजिक व सार्वजनिक… pic.twitter.com/jHmQDgd4v9

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) December 20, 2025

Udayanraje Bhosale, MP from Satara, said her guidance had been inspirational at many stages of his political and social life. He recalled her advice during difficult times, her lessons in patience, and her commitment to honest public service.

“Though she is no longer with us, her thoughts and guidance will continue to inspire us,” Bhosale said.

महाराष्ट्र राज्याच्या माजी महसूल मंत्री, कोरेगाव तालुक्याच्या माजी आमदार व ज्येष्ठ नेत्या मा. डॉ. शालिनीताई पाटील यांचे दुःखद निधन झाले.
राजकीय आणि सामाजिक जीवनातील अनेक टप्प्यांवर त्यांचे मार्गदर्शन नेहमीच प्रेरणादायी ठरले. कठीण प्रसंगी दिलेला सल्ला, संयमाची शिकवण आणि जनतेसाठी… pic.twitter.com/BIMait1cSu

— Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhonsle (@Chh_Udayanraje) December 20, 2025

Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania on Saturday expressed deep grief over the passing of former Maharashtra minister Shalinitai Patil.

In a post on X, Damania said she was saddened by the news, recalling that Shalinitai Patil had recently called her to meet and that they had last met on November 12.

She said Patil had openly expressed her displeasure over Ajit Pawar during their interaction. Damania added that she had promised to carry forward Shalinitai Patil’s struggle and paid her a heartfelt tribute.

शालिनीताईंचे निधन झाल्याची बातमी आत्ताच कळली. खूप खूप खूप वाईट वाटले.

ताई, तुम्ही मला अगदी आत्ता आत्ता भेटायला बोलावले. १२ नोव्हेंबर ला मी पुन्हा तुम्हाला भेटायला आले होते. अजित पवारांवर असेलेला राग आपण व्यक्त केला.

ताई मी तुमचा लढा पुढे नेईन हे माझे तुम्हाला वचन आहे.… pic.twitter.com/9qHj6s0E8e

— Mrs Anjali Damania (@anjali_damania) December 20, 2025

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of former MP and former Maharashtra minister Shalinitai Patil.

In a post on X, Sule said Patil had made a significant contribution to both political and social life and was known for putting forward her views firmly and standing by them. She said Patil’s passing marked the loss of an active and impactful personality from Maharashtra’s political and social sphere, and paid her heartfelt tribute.

माजी खासदार तथा राज्याच्या माजी मंत्री शालिनीताई पाटील यांच्या निधनाची बातमी अतिशय दुःखद आहे. राजकीय तथा सामाजिक क्षेत्रात त्यांनी उल्लेखनीय कामगिरी केली. त्यांनी आपल्या कार्यकाळात आपली मते ठामपणे मांडली आणि त्या मतांवर त्या ठाम राहिल्या. त्यांच्या निधनामुळे महाराष्ट्राच्या… pic.twitter.com/zuweEuVuub

— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) December 20, 2025

(with PTI inputs)

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