Ex-Union Minister P Shivshankar passes away

Former Union Minister P Shivshankar, a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist who quit Congress in his twilight years, passed away here on Monday. 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 said.

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.