Former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi passes away at 86

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Dr Manohar Joshi passed away in the early hours of Friday in Mumbai after a prolonged illness and age-related issues. He was 86.

A few months ago, he was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital for treatment of brain tumour.

He was rushed to the PD Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre at Mahim on Thursday after he suffered a heart attack.

Joshi passed away at 3 am on Friday, the family said in a brief statement.

The mortal remains would be kept at his residence in Matunga from 11 am to 2 pm. The last rites are expected to be performed at 3 pm at Shivaji Park Crematorium in Dadar.

Popularly known as 'Sir', Dr Joshi, who was a close aide of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, had also been the Speaker of Lok Sabha.

A successful politician and businessman, Dr Joshi, was a well-read man with elephantine memory, and had knowledge of various subjects.

He was also an avid cricket lover.

Dr Joshi is one of those rare politicians who has been a member of four law-making bodies - both Houses of Maharashtra legislature - Assembly and Council - and member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Dr Joshi had served in several capacities including as Mayor of Mumbai, as an MLA, Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Chief Minister from 1995-1999, Heavy Industries Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and Lok Sabha Speaker from 2002-2004.

Known for his memory, punctuality and sense of humour, his friendship cut across party lines.

Dr Joshi was born on December 2, 1937 at Nandavi in the Raigad district of the coastal Konkan belt of Maharashtra in a Maharashtrian Brahmin family.

He received his Masters of Arts and LLB degrees from Mumbai University.

He married Anagha Joshi on May 14, 1964. He has a son, Unmesh, and two daughters, Asmita and Namrata.

Joshi worked in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) but inspired by Balasaheb’s mission of the welfare of Marathi-manoos, he joined the Shiv Sena, which was founded in 1966.

He founded the Kohinoor Technical Institute, one of the finest and first institutions for vocational training.

He was elected to the BMC in 1968 and served as a Chairman of the Standing Committee and Mayor.

He was initially a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council and then got elected as a member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

He was also Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

When the undivided Shiv Sena came to power, Dr Joshi was the Chief Minister from March 14, 1995 to January 31, 1999.

He has a PhD on Shiv Sena from the University of Mumbai.