Former union minister Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil passes away, PM expresses grief

Loni (Maharashtra)[India], Dec. 30(ANI): Ex-Member of Parliament and former union minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil passed away on Friday evening in Loni in Maharashtra after prolonged illness. He was 84. Vikhe-Patil is survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons, including Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his grief at Patil's demise. "Pained by the demise of Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to @RVikhePatil & the entire family. Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil was a mass leader whose work in agriculture, rural development, education & cooperatives will be remembered," he said in a series of tweets. Patil, who was born on April 10, 1932 in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, was the member of the 14th Lok Sabha. He represented the Kopargaon constituency of Maharashtra and was a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). Though a Congressman most of his career, Balasaheb was elected to Lok Sabha on Shiv Sena ticket in 1998 and became Minister of State for Finance in the NDA government. He was subsequently elevated as Minister for Heavy Industries. He was awarded with prestigious civilian award Padma Bhushan on March 31, 2010 for his outstanding work in the field of social work. (ANI)