Vilasrao Deshmukh
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Vilasrao Dadoji Deshmukh (born May 26, 1945) is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra (Term: October 2004 - October 2009). He is a member of the Congress party and originally belongs to Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra. He is the father of Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh.
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[edit] Early life
Deshmukh was born on May 26, 1945 at Babhalgaon in District Latur of Marathwada. He graduated in Science (B.Sc.), Arts ( B.A) and Law ( L.LB.) from the ILS Law College (Pune University) and started social activities in his early youth. He took a keen interest in drought relief work. He was elected as Director on Osmanabad District Central Cooperative Bank and also on Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.
[edit] Political career
Deshmukh entered active politics and became member of the Babhalgaon Village Panchayat from 1974 to 1979 and its Sarpanch from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad and Dy. Chairman of Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti from 1974 to 1980.
As a President of Osmanabad District Youth Congress from 1975 to 1978, he worked for the implementation of Five Point Programme of the Youth Congress. He made special efforts to organise the youth in Osmanabad district and became President of Taluka Indian National Congress.
He was Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1995. During this period, as the Minister of State and the Cabinet Minister, Deshmukh handled many departments like Home, General Administration, Cooperation, Public Works, Transport, Legislative Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Fisheries, Industry, Rural Development, Education, Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare,
He was re-elected to the State Legislature from Latur Constituency in the elections held in September 1999. He took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on October 18, 1999. He was Chief Minister till 17 January 2003, but had to step down in January 2003 and make way for Sushilkumar Shinde, a prominent Dalit face of Congress, following factionalism in the state unit of the party.
He was re-elected to the State Legislative Assembly from Latur Constituency in the Elections held in October 2004. He has been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education.
He took oath of Chief Ministership second time on November 1, 2004.
[edit] Foreign tour
Deshmukh visited Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong in 1980, to study the Cooperative Movement and Agricultural Development. He also visited West Germany, France, England, United States and Japan in 1981. As the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he led an official delegation in May 2000 to U.S.A. and UK and visited New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Washington and London to interact with the investors to bring investment to Maharashtra.
[edit] Manjra Project
From April 1995 to October 17, 1999, when he was not in Government, he kept himself engaged in expansion of the Manjara Co-op.Sugar Mill. The Mill is computerised and well equipped with a wireless system. It established a world record in 1994-95 and in 1997-98 by crushing the highest quantity of sugarcane. It has won 34 awards on national and international level for excellence in production and management.
[edit] Educational activities
Deshmukh founded the Manjra Charitable Trust which runs three colleges in Latur area and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology and Sushiladevi Deshmukh Vidyalaya at Airoli, Navi Mumbai.
His hobbies include reading, classical music, volleyball and table tennis.
[edit] Controversies
Deshmukh ran into controversy recently when an engineer was suspended after cutting off electric connection of Deshmukh's residence for non-payment of electric dues. Deshmukh's government first issued a suspension order for the engineer who resorted to disconnecting the electric connection, and then giving in to the public pressure, Deshmukh revoked the suspension.
| Preceded by: Narayan Rane |
Chief Minister of Maharashtra 18 Oct 1999 - 16 Jan 2003 |
Succeeded by: Sushil Kumar Shinde |
| Preceded by: Sushilkumar Shinde |
Chief Minister of Maharashtra 1 Nov 2004 – |
Succeeded by: Current Incumbent |
