Mumbai, Dec 20 (NationPress) Shalinitai Patil, a prominent Congress figure and widow of the late former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vasantrao Patil, passed away on Saturday at her residence in Mumbai's Mahim at the remarkable age of 94.

The former Minister had been dealing with age-related health challenges for the last few months.

Family members have confirmed that Shalinitai Patil's final rites will take place in her native village located in the Koregaon taluka of Satara district, Maharashtra.

Her passing marks the conclusion of a bold and outspoken era in Maharashtra's political history.

Revered as the 'Tigress of Maharashtra Politics' — a title given to her by the founder of Shiv Sena, Balasaheb Thackeray — Shalinitai Patil was an indomitable presence in the state's political fabric.

Although she gained notoriety as the spouse of Vasantrao Patil, she quickly established her own strong identity through her dynamic leadership and administrative prowess.

Shalinitai Patil's life was also characterized by a deeply personal journey of resilience.

Her marriage to the late Chief Minister Vasantrao Patil formed a unique bond that, despite facing public skepticism, blossomed into a powerful political alliance.

She held the position of State Revenue Minister in the Cabinet of former Maharashtra Chief Minister A.R. Antulay.

Shalinitai Patil is notably remembered for her significant involvement in the 1981 political crisis that resulted in A.R. Antulay's resignation.

She served as a Member of Parliament representing the Sangli Lok Sabha constituency and as an MLA from the Koregaon Assembly constituency (Satara) for a decade from 1999 to 2009.

In her later years, she became a staunch advocate for Maratha reservation, often challenging the political status quo.

Recently, Shalinitai Patil was in the news due to a dispute involving Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party Chief, centered around the Jarandeshwar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana (a cooperative sugar factory) in Satara.

This conflict became one of the most prominent legal and political battles within Maharashtra's cooperative sector.

Shalinitai Patil publicly accused Ajit Pawar of leveraging his influence within the bank to manipulate auction processes.

She alleged that the acquiring company was a 'dummy' entity connected to Ajit Pawar's relatives, effectively appropriating the factory from cooperative ownership to private control.

Ajit Pawar consistently denied these allegations.

The news of Shalinitai Patil's death has triggered widespread mourning across Maharashtra.

Political leaders from various parties have expressed their condolences, recalling Shalinitai Patil as a steadfast leader who supported Vasantrao Patil while carving out her own unique political narrative.

Udayanraje Bhonsle, the MP from Satara, who shared a close relationship with Shalinitai Patil, often regarded her as a maternal figure.