Manohar Joshi is an Indian politician known for serving as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. He held an important position within Shiv Sena and was one of its key leaders. Many media accounts show his loyalty to the Thackerays as a follower of Bal Thackeray. He often expressed his love for him by saying, “Balasaheb is my leader.” He is also one of the Indians elected to all four legislative assemblies. He died of a heart attack on February 23, 2024, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Wiki/Biography
Manohar Gajanan Joshi was born on Thursday, December 2, 1937.86 years old; At the time of death) is located in Nandavi, Raigad district of Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai. He also holds a Master’s degree in Law and a PhD from the University of Mumbai. Born into a poor family, he earned his livelihood through Madhukari and received alms for those who had undergone the thread ritual. He also worked as a waiter in an inn and as a laborer in Mumbai. Manohar moved to Mumbai for education due to limited educational opportunities in the village. After arriving in Mumbai, he was drawn to the grassroots politics espoused by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who later became his mentor and ultimately led him into the political arena.
Manohar Joshi and Bal Thackeray
physical figure
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Color: salt and pepper (opposite head)
Eye Color: black
family
He was born into a poor Brahmin family.
parents and siblings
Manohar’s father’s name is Gajanan Krishna Joshi and his mother’s name is Saraswati Gajanan.
wife and children
Manohar married Anagha Joshi on 14 May 1964. His wife died in 2020.
Manohar Joshi with his wife
Together they had a son, Unmesh, and two daughters, Asmita and Namrata.
Son of Manohar Joshi
other relatives
Joshi’s granddaughter Sharvari Wagh entered the film industry with the 2021 film ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’. 
job
politics
Joshi started his career as a teacher and entered politics in 1967. After completing his studies in 1968, he started his career as an officer in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In 1972, he began his political journey by winning a seat in the Legislative Council representing Shiv Sena. He held this position for three consecutive years until 1989. He also served as Mayor of Mumbai from 1976 to 1977.
After Mayor Manohar Joshi was elected
In 1990, he won a seat in the Legislative Assembly as a Shiv Sena candidate. From 1995 to 1999, he served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His tenure marked a significant milestone as he became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Maharashtra when the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance came to power in 1995. However, Maharashtra’s first non-Congress government was led in 1978 by Sharad Pawar, then a member of the Indian National Congress (Socialist). According to many party members, he became Chief Minister on March 14, 1995, beating his uncle and frontrunner for the CM post, Sudhir Joshi. Thackeray claimed that Manohar’s intellect and business knowledge were superior, and he enjoyed good relations with other leaders, especially Sharad Pawar of the Congress party. The Maharashtra government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hinduja during his tenure as Chief Minister. However, upon discovering this arrangement, Bal Thackeray expressed his dissatisfaction, feeling left out of the decision-making process. The Maharashtra government initiated a significant slum rehabilitation program during his tenure as Chief Minister. The aim of the scheme was to provide free housing to slum dwellers living in temporary shacks before 1995. The construction of the Bombay-Pune Expressway took place during Joshi’s tenure as Prime Minister. He founded the Jagatik Marathi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also organized the Advantage Maharashtra Conference to boost industrial investments in the state. He also coordinated the Agro Advantage Maharashtra program aimed at supporting farmers and organized exhibitions showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. He has written a book in Marathi titled “Swachh Mumbai; Harit Mumbai” which focuses on environmental issues and the Clean Mumbai movement. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he faced conflicts with various leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal in 1991. Bhujbal expressed dissatisfaction when Bal Thackeray appointed Joshi as Leader of Opposition, leading to Bhujbal leaving the party. In the 1999 general elections, he won a seat in the Lok Sabha representing central Mumbai. Joshi served as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises from October 1999 to May 2002 in the administration led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Lok Sabha Speaker under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. On 20 March 2006, he secured a seat in the Rajya Sabha after losing the Lok Sabha elections from Central Mumbai constituency. Despite his retirement from politics, he maintained a consistent presence, regularly attending all gatherings held at “Matoshree”, the residence of the Thackerays.
educator
He started the Kohinoor Technical/Vocational Training Institute to provide training to semi-skilled youth as electricians, plumbers, TV/radio/scooter repairmen and photographers. Later, he started more Kohinoor branches in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik. He also started construction and capital-oriented businesses. He founded Kohinoor Business School and Kohinoor-IMI Hotel Management School in Khandala, Maharashtra. He also held the position of Chief Minister of Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth.
award
- 2025: Padma Bhushan (Posthumous) in Public Affairs Division (Maharashtra).
controversy
accused of inciting riots in Ayodhya
Amid the 1992-1993 riots triggered by the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Joshi and Bal Thackeray were found to have encouraged Shivsainiks to engage in violence against Muslims, following the Indian government’s instructions for an inquiry known as the Srikrishna Committee Report. Joshi, who was part of the BJP-Shiv Sena government during that period, declared that he did not recognize the committee’s proposals, calling the report “anti-Hindu, pro-Muslim and biased”.
Biased land allocation
During his tenure as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, he granted land in Pune to a developer known to his son-in-law Girish Vyas for a school project. In 1998, Girish constructed a residential complex called Sundew on the allotted land. However, in January 1999, Joshi resigned from his position following an investigation launched by Vijay Kumbhar, an RTI activist from Pune. In March 2009, the Bombay High Court ruled that the housing complex was illegal. In 2011, the Supreme Court of India ruled on the matter and imposed a fine of Rs. 15,000. Despite labeling the charges as “political vendetta”, Joshi accepted Thackeray’s request to step down from his post. The building was later repurposed as a school.
asset/property
moving assets
- Bank deposit: Rs. 10,39,437
- Bonds, debentures and shares: Rs. 5,88,734
- Car: Rs. 15,20,500
- Other assets: Rs. 12,11,861
real estate
- Farmland: Rs. 1,50,00,000
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 30,00,000
- Commercial Building: Rs. 1,29,00,000
- Residential Building: Rs. 99,00,000
memo: The asset estimates given do not include assets owned by the wife and dependents.
net worth
Rupees 400 million
memo: The asset estimates given do not include assets owned by the wife and dependents.
death
In May 2023, he was admitted to PD Hinduja Hospital in a ‘semi-coma’ state due to cerebral hemorrhage. He passed away in Mumbai on February 23, 2024 at the age of 86. He suffered a heart attack on February 22, 2024 and was admitted to the intensive care unit of Hinduja Hospital. His last rites were performed at Shivaji Park Crematorium. Officials said he received a state funeral.
Manohar Joshi’s last rites
Facts/Quiz
- He was known by the names Joshi sir and Manohar Pant by party leaders.
- In September 2022, Joshi was appointed as a key supporter of NLC Bharat.
- In September 2023, Sada Sarvankar, an MLA affiliated with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, made an important statement in a widely shared video. He alleged that Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut had instigated the attack on Joshi’s house in Shivaji Park in 2009. Despite claims lacking evidence, tensions between Joshi and Uddhav Thackeray have been observed by party workers, especially after Bal Thackeray’s death in 2012.
- In 2013, tensions between Uddhav Thackeray and Manohar reached their peak. At the Shiv Sena’s annual Dussehra rally, Joshi, who traditionally sits next to Bal Thackeray at all functions, was forced to leave the stage. Uddhav supporters within the party are reportedly not happy with Joshi’s comments. Joshi said that Shiv Sena’s leadership approach under Uddhav Thackeray was not as dogmatic as under Bal Thackeray.
- In a statement, Gajanan Kirtikar, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) member of parliament, said of Joshi:
The teacher was famous for his discipline. I have worked with him in the party as well as in the state government. He was very punctual. He had a vision for development. He was a prime minister working on the ground. His contribution to the construction and education sector of Maharashtra will never be forgotten.”
- He had a deep affection for Maharashtra and the Marathi speaking people.
- He completed his doctoral thesis on Shiv Sena and received his Ph.D.
