Mumbai/Thane: Veteran Shiv Sena leader Sabir Shaikh who had served as a labour minister in the erstwhile NDA government in Maharashtra in 1995 died at a private hospital in Bhiwandi today following a prolonged illness, his family members said.

He was 71. Shaikh, who remained a bachelor throughhout his life and had been touted as the biggest Muslim face of the saffron party founded by Bal Thackeray, was responsible for strengthening the party.