VIDEO: Ajit Pawar Hails Vilasrao Deshmukh As The Best CM He Has Worked With | File Photos
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in a recent interview, hailed the late Vilasrao Deshmukh as the best chief minister he has worked with. The clip of this interaction was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday by Vilasrao’s son, Dhiraj Deshmukh.
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Sharing the clip, Dhiraj wrote in Marathi, “In an interview with a news channel, when asked who is the best chief minister, Ajit Pawar answered Vilasrao Deshmukh.”
“During his tenure, Vilasrao Deshmukh Saheb took everyone along. While working with him as a minister, Ajit Pawar would have also come to know his open-minded nature. The answer you gave reflects the sentiments of everyone. Dada, thank you very much for this,” he added.
In an earlier interview as well, Pawar had called Deshmukh the best CM, stating that he had mastered the “tactics of leading a coalition government.”
Who was Vilasrao Deshmukh?
Vilasrao Deshmukh, a strongman from the Marathwada region of Latur, served as the chief minister of Maharashtra twice. On both occasions, however, he failed to complete his five-year terms.
Born on May 26, 1945, in Babhalgaon village, Latur, Deshmukh graduated from ILS Law College in Pune. He began his political career as the sarpanch of his village before becoming a member of Congress’ youth wing. He was first elected to the Maharashtra Assembly in 1980 from Latur and re-elected in 1985 and 1990 from the same constituency.
Deshmukh soon became a prominent Congress leader, holding key portfolios such as revenue, agriculture, home, industries and education between 1982 and 1995. Although he lost the 1995 state assembly election, he was re-elected in 1999 and the Congress chose him as the chief minister. In 2004, the Democratic Front returned to power, and Deshmukh was again selected as chief minister. During his second tenure, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks took place. Citing moral responsibility, Deshmukh resigned on December 5, 2008.
Deshmukh then entered the Parliament through the Rajya Sabha and was appointed minister of heavy industries and public enterprises in 2011. However, he was diagnosed with cirrhosis in 2011, followed by liver and kidney failure in 2012. He passed away on August 14, 2012, at the age of 67.
