Maharashtra Mourns the Loss of BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile

Pune, Oct 17 (PTI) In a significant loss for the political landscape of Maharashtra, BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile, who represented the Rahuri constituency in the Ahilyanagar district, has passed away following a heart attack on Friday, according to sources close to his family.

At the age of 66, Kardile was taken to a hospital in Ahilyanagar after suffering a heart attack in the morning, where the doctors pronounced him dead. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughters. The BJP leader had been grappling with a spinal ailment for an extended period, leading to his withdrawal from public engagements for more than a year, as noted by party sources.

The last rites of Kardile are scheduled to be performed later today.

Kardile began his political journey as a sarpanch. He was a six-time legislator, winning five consecutive terms. Although he was defeated by NCP's Prajakta Tanpure in the 2019 assembly elections, he made a comeback to the assembly with his victory in the 2024 polls. Before aligning with the BJP, Kardile's political career saw him serving as an independent MLA initially and later representing Congress and the undivided NCP.

His son, Akshay Kardile, currently holds the position of Ahilyanagar south district chief of the BJP Yuva Morcha, according to party sources. Kardile’s son-in-law, Sangram Jagtap, is also a noted political figure, serving as an MLA for the Ahmednagar City constituency in the Ahilyanagar district.

Expressing his condolences on X, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed seat in Ahilyanagar district, praised Kardile's contributions. "The people-oriented work he did in various positions such as MLA, Minister of State, Chairman of Ahilyanagar District Bank, etc., will always be remembered," said Pawar.