Mumbai: Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi passed away at around 3 am on Friday, two days after he was hospitalised. He was 86. He breathed his last at the Hinduja Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment since Wednesday.
Manohar Joshi, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha was admitted to the hospital after he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under close observation as his health did not improve over time. According to his family, his last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar area.
Earlier in May 2023, Joshi suffered brain haemorrhage following which he was admitted to the ICU where he was in a semi-conscious state for a few days, before being discharged.
Born on December 2, 1937 in Raigad district, in coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, in a Brahmin family, Joshi obtained his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) in state capital.
His first plunge into politics began with his tryst with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Later, he got drawn to the ideology of the Shiv Sena, when Bal Thackeray floated it. The Shiv Sainik was first elected as a municipal councilor in Mumbai during 1968-70 and Chairman, Standing Committee of the Mumbai municipal corporation in 1970. He was then elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1972 and he served there three terms. He also served as the Mayor of Mumbai during 1976-1977.
He was later elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1990 and served as the Leader of the Opposition during 1990-91. The 86-year-old Shiv Sena stalwart emerged as a key leader in 1980s and was widely popular for his organisational skills.
