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 & Minister of state of Finance in Government of India. He has served as a Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha at various occasions representing Kopargaon & Ahmednagar. He was a member of the Indian National Congress but later joined Shivsena. He appointed Pro-tem Speaker of 14th Lok Sabha.

Political career
He was a prominent leader of Maharashtra. He was a Minister in Third Vajpayee Ministry. He was seven time MP of Lok Sabha representing Kopargaon & Ahmednagar. He was firstly appointed as Minister of State in Ministry of Finance (India) & later on appointed as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in Government of India.

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.