May 26 marks the birth anniversary of late Congress leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh. His political career is a bundle of contributions to the society and alleged controversies. Deshmukh was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1980 and followed it up with victories in 1985 and 1990.
About Vilasrao Deshmukh, the visionary leader from Maharashtra
Beginning his political journey as 'Sarpanch' of Babhalgaon village panchayat in 1974, Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh negotiated the choppy political waters of Maharashtra with elan, becoming chief minister twice before moving over to Delhi as a member of the Union cabinet.
Hailing from the politically dominant Maratha community, Deshmukh, a graduate from the ILS Law College, Pune, was a grassroots Congress worker, who proved his mettle at all stages in his impressive political career.
His political sagacity landed him the coveted chief minister's chair for the first time in October, 1999. He continued in the post from October 18, 1999 to January 17, 2003, when he had to make way for Sushilkumar Shinde, amid growing factionalism in the state Congress.
Phase of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai
Amid mounting public outrage over the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008, Deshmukh resigned owning moral responsibility and shifted to Delhi taking the Rajya Sabha route.
Like most politicians, controversies did not spare him too. Deshmukh provoked indignation and was accused of "terror tourism" when he visited the fire-ravaged Taj hotel with actor son Riteish and filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma soon after the 26/11 carnage.
Love for movies
One might be aware that he is the father of Riteish Deshmukh, an established actor in the film industry today. However, it is a lesser-known fact that Vilasrao Deshmukh, apart from politics was a film buff.
He was attracted to the film world since his college days in Pune. It grew up in such a way that the ILS Law College - his alma mater, was just a stone’s throw away from the Film Institute of India. He had many friends from the institute who later settled in Bollywood.
Yash Chopra directed Lamhe was one of his favourite movies. He reportedly saw this movie more than once. He attended maximum possible film events when he was a member of the state cabinet. During one of such events sometime in 1993-94, he was asked to sing a song by his friends from Bollywood. He sang his favourite number “Yeh mera prem patra padhkar ke tum naraz na hona...” from the movie Sangam.
Death
Deshmukh died on 14 August 2012 due to multiple organ failure at Global Hospitals, Chennai.
(With source inputs)
