Vilasrao Deshmukh, a two-time chief minister of Maharashtra, is perhaps one of the few leaders in the state who apparently stole the hearts of scores in the state. And the moment Vilasrao Deshmukh's expiry news reached their ears, all of them got struck with grief. The leader, who started his public service as a sarpanch of a small village winded up his duties within 67 years as heavens apparently called him.
Family & politics:
Born on May 26, 1945, Vilasrao Deshmukh was the most loved person in his family. Born with a silver spoon into a landlords' family, Vilasrao Deshmukh-instead of leading a life of luxury-concentrated on public grievances right from his teenage. Probably that could be his reason behind opting law as his career. Later, in 1974 Vilasrao Deshmukh (for the first time) became sarpanch of Babhalgoan village of Latur district. He held this post from 1974 to 1980.
Later, Vilasrao Deshmukh became a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad member and deputy chairman of Latur district panchayat. He was a Congressman right from his initial days of politics. He played an active role as Youth Congress leader and took forward the five point programme of the Centre then. In the year 1980, Vilasrao Deshmukh got an MLA ticket and he won the elections and became the MLA for the first time. Even in 1985 and 1990 elections, he was given MLA tickets and he won. He was inducted into the state cabinet where he handled various portfolios efficiently. In 1995 elections, with a slight margin, Vilasrao Deshmukh lost. However, in 1999 he made a big comeback by winning with a margin of 91,000 votes, which happens to be the highest in Maharashtra.
In the same year, he became the chief minister. For the first time, he adorned the highest political seat in the state. On October 18, 1999, Vilasrao Deshmukh took the oath of office as the chief minister of Maharashtra. In 2003, factionalism in the state led Vilasrao Deshmukh step down from the post and Sushil Kumar Shinde (present union home minister) became the CM then. Later in 2004 elections, Vilasrao Deshmukh was re-elected to the state assembly and adorned the chief minister's throne yet another time.
Resignation as Maha CM:
The Mumbai terror attacks is something any Indian cannot forget. The ghastly incident took place during the regime of Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2008. He faced the ire of the public and from different sections of the society when he took his son Riteish Deshmukh and film maker Ram Gopal Varma to Taj Hotel in Mumbai where the terrorists hid and conducted their operations during 26/11 attacks. Following the ire from the public and as a moral responsibility, Vilasrao Deshmukh resigned for chief minister's post. He also faced allegations in Adarsh society scam for allegedly holding two flats there but then he was not found guilty by the Bombay High Court.
Entered Rajya Sabha:
After resigning as the chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh was made the Rajya Sabha member by the Centre. He was later inducted into the cabinet on January 19, 2011. He was given the portfolio of heavy industries and public enterprises. After six months, his portfolio was changed and he was made the union minister of science and technology.
Expires:
On August 14, Vilasrao Deshmukh expired at a private hospital in Chennai. Several prominent personalities paid respects to Vilasrao Deshmukh. He died to liver ailment.
Maharashtra, a day before Pandrah August, undoubtedly lost an efficient leaders, who was apparently in a plan to come back to state and revive the politics.
(AW Phani)
