Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh passes away at 67

Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was undergoing treatment for a liver ailment for a week, passed away at a Chennai hospital this afternoon. He was 67.

As Deshmukh was a sitting Cabinet minister, Parliament was on Tuesday adjourned for the day. To mourn his death, all flags on national buildings would fly at half-mast.

Born in 1945, the most important post Deshmukh held was that of Maharashtra chief minister between 1999 and 2003 (he had a second stint from 2004), when he managed a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition. In this capacity, he was loyal to both NCP chief Sharad Pawar, as well as his party, the Congress. And yet, he balanced all caste and party equations with talent.

The Kurdukar Commi-ssion to enquire into the Enron deal was set up during Deshmukh’s chief ministership. Had it completed its task, it would have put not just the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, but also Sharad Pawar in the dock. Also, had Pawar been in the Congress, this would have been an embarrassment, but as he was in the NCP, the enquiry turned into a political instrument to be used every time Pawar or his flock became restive. Thus, Deshmukh bought insurance against Pawar.

As chief minister, Deshmukh also referred the issue of running cooperative sugar mills to a commission of enquiry headed by the state Lokayukta. In Maharashtra, sugar mills mean Sharad Pawar. So, while the Congress was an ally of the NCP, these moves conveyed to members of the legislative assembly that Deshmukh while from Pawar’s community, was very much his own man.

When he was removed from chief ministership in 2003, Deshmukh had no charges against him, except specious ones. One, for instance, was that he had used his position to promote his son Reitesh’s career in Bollywood.

In 2003, Deshmukh was moved to Delhi as the party’s general secretary. He recognised this was his chance to strengthen what, till now, was his weakest point — contact with the party’s high command. In a political victory, with him as general secretary, the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance won the 2004 Karnataka elections. And, well before the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, as party general secretary, he had warned Sonia Gandhi the Congress would lose if it relied much on Ajit Jogi, a man of strong likes and dislikes.

THE LONG JOURNEY
Vilasrao Dagdojirao Deshmukh entered into active politics in 1974, and was member of Babhalgaon village panchayat from 1974 to 1979

• During 1976 and 1980 he was a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad
   
• Headed Osmanabad district Youth Congress during 1975 and 1978
   
• Elected for the first time to Maharashtra Assembly from Latur in 1980. Got re-elected in 1985 and 1990. During this period, Vilasrao, as minister of state and cabinet minister, held various departments of home, general administration, cooperation, public works, transport, legislative, etc
   
• In January 1991, Vilasrao was one of the ministers and Congress leaders who staged a rebellion against former chief minister Sharad Pawar. The coup failed
   
• He lost the Assembly elections in 1995
   
• Subsequently, Vilasrao made an attempt in vain to get elected to Maharashtra Legislative Council, even after seeking support from the Shiv Sena
   
• Got elected in September 1999 and became chief minister for the first time until January 17, 2003. Later, he stepped down to make way for Sushilkumar Shinde
   
• Re-elected in October 2004 Assembly elections and became CM for the second time on November 1, 2004
   
• Stepped down from the CM post, accepting moral responsibility following 26/11, 2008, terrorist attack
   
• Nominated to Rajya Sabha, and was made minister for heavy industries and public enterprises on May 28, 2009
   
• Became minister for rural development on January 19, 2011
   
• Became minister of science and technology and minister of earth sciences on July 12, 2011
   
• Elected president of Mumbai Cricket Association in 2011

Deshmukh contested and won the 2004 assembly elections in Maharashtra and was reappointed chief minister. However, after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he took moral responsibility and resigned, before coming to Delhi through the Rajya Sabha. He was appointed minister for heavy industries, rural development, and later, for science and technology. His name figured in the Adarsh housing scam.

In Deshmukh’s death, the Congress has lost an important leader in Maharashtra — one who could have been a balancing factor between the party and the NCP.

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of your husband, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh. Shri Deshmukh was an esteemed colleague and a dear friend”

Pranab Mukherjee,
President, to Deshmukh’s widow

"I have lost a dear friend and a very valued colleague. He was a trusted colleague and an able administrator who worked with admirable dedication"

Manmohan Singh,
Prime Minister

"I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of my dear friend. He was very humble, and was able to connect with people across the political spectrum”

S M Krishna,
External Affairs Minister

“Vilasrao Deshmukh was a progressive and pro-develop-ment leader. During his chief ministership, Maharashtra scaled new highs in industrial development”

Prithviraj Chavan
Maharashtra CM

“He was one of the few leaders who knew people at the district level. We had the benefit of his wisdom and experience in the Cabinet. May his soul rest in peace”

Praful Patel,
Minister for Heavy Industries

“I am deeply aggrieved at the loss of a dear friend and valued colleague. I had the privilege of having known him for over three decades”

Anand Sharma,
Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles

“Vilasrao Deshmukh's contributions to Maharashtra as CM will be remembered. He devoted his entire life to the services of the common people and worked selflessly”

Rajkumar N Dhoot,
ASSOCHAM president