Manohar Joshi: Started politics from RSS, first Chief Minister of Shiv Sena, Manohar Joshi was the 'decent face' of politics.

Former Lok Sabha speaker and first chief minister of the undivided Shiv Sena, Manohar Joshi, died in a Mumbai hospital on Friday. Manohar Joshi was 86 years old and was hospitalized for a long time. He died on Friday due to a heart attack. Manohar Joshi was close to Shiv Sena founder Bala Saheb Thackeray and played an important role in the formation of Shiv Sena. However, Manohar Joshi had publicly criticized Uddhav Thackeray a few years ago, after which he was marginalized in Shiv Sena politics.

Manohar Joshi's political career

Manohar Joshi was born on December 2, 1937, in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai. Manohar Joshi's wife was Anagha Joshi, who died in the year 2020 at the age of 75. Manohar Joshi is survived by one son and two daughters. Manohar Joshi's political career started with RSS, but later he joined Shiv Sena and remained associated with Shiv Sena for almost four decades. Manohar Joshi emerged as one of the powerful leaders of Shiv Sena in the 1980s and was known for his hold on the party organization. Manohar Joshi was the first Chief Minister of the undivided Shiv Sena from 1995-1999.

Was also a Lok Sabha speaker in Vajpayee's government

He was also the Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 2002 to 2004 in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Manohar Joshi started his professional career as a teacher in the year 1967. After this, he was a councilor of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation from 1968-70 and later also the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Manohar Joshi was also the Mayor of Mumbai between 1976-77. Manohar Joshi was elected a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1972 and remained a member for three terms. In the year 1990, Manohar Joshi was elected member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and during this period he was also the leader of the opposition.

Manohar Joshi reached Parliament by being elected from Mumbai's North-Central Lok Sabha seat in the general elections held in 1999 and later also worked as a Union Minister. Paying tribute to Manohar Joshi on his demise, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said that with the demise of Manohar Joshi, the 'civilized face' of Maharashtra politics is gone. Nitin Gadkari had worked as a minister in Manohar Joshi's government. Manohar Joshi's last rites will be performed at the Shivaji Park crematorium in the Dadar area.

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