Vilasrao Deshmukh turned Writer

By Vaidehi Sachin

The wheel has come full circle for veteran Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh who ruled as Maharashtra chief minister for two times. Vilasrao had to leave his post accepting moral responsibility of 26/11 terror attack. Now day he is busy writing book on his political journey. From a village sarpanch in Latur district to the top post for the two time, 59-year-old Deshmukh has extensive experience in the legislature and administration.
He hails from the economically backward region of Marathwada and is known for his administrative acumen. He had been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding the portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education.
A widely traveled man, he visited several foreign countries to study agricultural and industrial development trends. He became chief minister in 1999 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.

A known Sharad Pawar-baiter, Deshmukh suffered a major setback in the 1995 assembly polls when Janata Dal candidate Shivajirao Patil Kavhekar defeated him by over 30,000 votes in Latur assembly constituency. He won the seat in 1999 and retained it in that election.
During his entire political carrier he was trapped in so many controvercies, every time he had to quit his post due to some or other set back. This book will be about his political journey and the experiences he shared with various political leaders. Deshmukh is known for his silent and sober taunts he was never vocal and loud on any issue. When ever reporters used to ask him for explanation he used to answer then in very humorous way.There are so many minister so far written their biography, most of the biographies were authored by some well known people but vilasrao is writing his book himself. Let say their something better than nothing. At last Deshmukh got involved in some constructive task.When we asked Narayan Rane his opinion on writer Deshmukh “ smart rane very diplomatically said, that’s good I wish him all the best and wait for its launch.”After a great struggle he could get assure his stay with congress party, looking at the risk he avoided commenting further. Any ways this news made Rane giggle from bottom of his heart. People have seen lawyer vilasrao Deshmukh, politician, and educationnist now they will get to read hidden secreats of his life.When asked about the tiltle he told this paper “ it is yet to be decided, he wants to put his thought process in words and then he will decide about the title. This book will be dedicated to Party high command his mentors and Party.