Hyderabad : Former Union Minister P Shivshankar, a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist who quit Congress in his twilight years, passed away here today. He was 90.
Shivshankar, a prominent backward classes leader who also served as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala, died this morning due to old age-related health issues, his son Vinay Kumar told PTI.
Shivshankar served as a Judge in the then Andhra Pradesh High Court, but resigned from his job and practised law in the High Court and Supreme Court, he said.
He successfully handled cases related to the Emergency on the request of Indira Gandhi and gained her confidence. He was considered as one of the key advisers of the former Prime Minister.
Shivshankar won as MP from Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat in 1978 and again in 1980. He served as Union Law Minister in 1980 and also as Minister for Energy.
The senior leader played an important role in Congress’ affairs as well. After the assassination of Gandhi in 1984, amid doubts expressed by some, Shivshankar felt her son Rajiv Gandhi could become the Prime Minister.
He lost narrowly from Medak Lok Sabha constituency, which was earlier represented by Gandhi. He was, however, elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat and held important portfolios like the External Affairs, HRD, Commerce and Planning in Union Cabinet.
He served as Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and also as Leader of Opposition in the Upper House.
In 1998, he was elected to Lok Sabha from Tenali in Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Shivshankar was seen as a critic of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, particularly after the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya in December 1992.
Shivshankar, however, resigned from Congress and joined actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party which was merged with Congress subsequently.
He had not been active politically since then.
Shivshankar’s elder son Sudheer Kumar was kidnapped in a daring raid from his home in the heart of Hyderabad by Naxalites in May 1991.
Sudheer was set free after about a week allegedly in exchange for the release of three Naxal leaders.
Born in Hyderabad as one among 11 children, Shivshankar ran away from home as he could not continue studies and reached Amritsar, Vinay said.
He did shoe-polishing in Amritsar, but educated himself.
He returned to Hyderabad and joined as PA to then Mayor of the city before becoming a High Court Judge, he added.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, State Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy and several other leaders condoled the death of Shivshankar.
