Balasaheb Vikhe Patil

Eknathrao, alias Balasaheb Vikhe Patil (10 April 1932 – 30 December 2016), was an Indian politician and former Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Minister of state of Finance in Government of India. He served as a Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha variously representing Kopargaon and Ahmednagar. He was a member of the Indian National Congress but later joined Shivsena. He was appointed Pro-tem Speaker of 14th Lok Sabha.

Political career He was a prominent political leader in Maharashtra. He was a Minister in the Third Vajpayee Ministry. He served seven terms as a Lok Sabha MP representing Kopargaon and Ahmednagar. He won his Lok Sabha seat in 1998 as a candidate for Shiv Sena. As a supporter of the NDA government he was appointed Minister of State in Ministry of Finance (India) and later on appointed Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in the Government of India. He rejoined the Indian National Congress in 2004.

Early life He was the eldest son of Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, who started Asia's first Co-operative sugar factory at Loni in Maharashtra.

Awards The Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Award from Pune University for lifetime achievement in the field of education and rural development in 2007 Padma Bhushan by Government of India on 31 March 2010 for his outstanding work in the field of Social Work. D.Sc - Doctor of Science Award awarded in the year 2013 by Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri.