<p>Veteran Congressman and former union minister Manikrao Gavit, one of the longest-serving Lok Sabha MPs, passed away on Saturday. </p>.<p>Gavit, a veteran tribal leader from Maharashtra, was 87, and passed away in a hospital in Nashik because of old-age related issues. </p>.<p>Gavit served as a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha and represented the tribal-dominated Nandurbar seat of North Maharashtra. </p>.<p>In the 16th Lok Sabha elections, he lost to Heena Gavit of BJP.</p>.<p>Gavit had served as Minister of State in the Congress-led UPA government under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh - and handled portfolios like Home and Social Justice. </p>.<p>Gavit was appointed a Pro Tem Speaker of 15th Lok Sabha by then President Pratibha Patil.</p>
<p>Veteran Congressman and former union minister Manikrao Gavit, one of the longest-serving Lok Sabha MPs, passed away on Saturday. </p>.<p>Gavit, a veteran tribal leader from Maharashtra, was 87, and passed away in a hospital in Nashik because of old-age related issues. </p>.<p>Gavit served as a member of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha and represented the tribal-dominated Nandurbar seat of North Maharashtra. </p>.<p>In the 16th Lok Sabha elections, he lost to Heena Gavit of BJP.</p>.<p>Gavit had served as Minister of State in the Congress-led UPA government under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh - and handled portfolios like Home and Social Justice. </p>.<p>Gavit was appointed a Pro Tem Speaker of 15th Lok Sabha by then President Pratibha Patil.</p>