The union minister and former Maharashtra CM, Vilasrao Deshmukh has passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. He was 67.  It is known that Vilasrao Deshmukh suffered from multiple organ failure including serious liver ailment. He was admitted to Global Hospital in Chennai on August 6 night.  He was kept on a ventilator and his condition was said to be critical initially. However, doctors later said Vilasrao was stable.

Vilasrao Deshmukh was in need of liver transplantation and his son Riteish Deshmukh (husband of actress Genelia) came forward to donate the liver. However, later doctors found a prospective donor, who was brain dead. Tamil Nadu organ registry granted permission to doctors to transplant all the organs of this brain dead person. Unfortunately, the donor suffered a cardiac arrest this morning and the operation was postponed. And on Tuesday afternoon, Vilasrao Deshmukh passed away leaving scores of his fans in pain.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was a two-time chief minister of Maharashtra, was said to be an able politician who was apparently liked by scores of people in Maharashtra. Born on May 26, 1945 into a landlords' family, Vilasrao Deshmukh pursued law from University of Pune.  He was fascinated by politics and became the sarpanch for the first time of Babhalgoan village in Latur district. He, however, joined mainstream politics in 1980. And in 1999 he became the chief minister of Maharashtra for the first time.

In Maharashtra, the independence day celebrations will definitely be a name sake as people are reportedly shocked over the expiry of Vilasrao Deshmukh. At the parade tomorrow, the National Flag will be at half-mast.

(AW Phani)