Vilasrao Deshmukh
| Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh विलासराव दगडोजीराव देशमुख |
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|---|---|
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| Vilasrao Deshmukh | |
| Minister of Science and Technology | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 12 July 2011 |
|
| President | Pratibha Patil |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Pawan Kumar Bansal |
| Minister of Earth Sciences | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 12 July 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Pawan Kumar Bansal |
| Mumbai Cricket Association | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 15 July 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Sharad Pawar |
| Minister of Rural Development | |
| In office 19 January 2011 – 12 July 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | C. P. Joshi |
| Succeeded by | Jairam Ramesh |
| Minister of Panchayati Raj | |
| In office 19 January 2011 – 12 July 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | C. P. Joshi |
| Succeeded by | Kishore Chandra Deo |
| Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises | |
| In office 28 May 2009 – 19 January 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Santosh Mohan Dev |
| Succeeded by | Praful Patel |
| Chief Minister of Maharashtra | |
| In office 7 September 2004 – 5 December 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Sushil Kumar Shinde |
| Succeeded by | Ashok Chavan |
| Chief Minister of Maharashtra | |
| In office 18 October 1999 – 16 January 2003 |
|
| Preceded by | Narayan Rane |
| Succeeded by | Sushil Kumar Shinde |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1945 India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse(s) | Vaishali Deshmukh |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh (Marathi: विलासराव दगडोजीराव देशमुख) (born May 26, 1945), popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences. He has previously held the posts of Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj, Government of India and Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India.[1] He is member of Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra. He was also a two-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2008. He is a member of the Indian National Congress and originally belongs to Latur district in the Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra.
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[edit] Early life and family
Deshmukh was born on May 26, 1945 in Babhalgaon in the Latur district. He graduated with a degree in Science (B.Sc.) and Arts (B.A.) from M.E.S Abasaheb Garware College, (Pune University) and went on to study law (L.L.B.) from the ILS Law College (Pune University).[2] He started social activities in his early youth with particular interest in drought relief work. He was elected as the Director of the Osmanabad district Central Cooperative Bank and also of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.[2]
His wife is Vaishali Deshmukh, and he has three sons from her, Amit Deshmukh who is a MLA of Latur city, Ritesh and Dheeraj.[2] His son Ritesh Deshmukh is an actor in Bollywood movies.[3]
He has one younger brother Diliprao Deshmukh, who is a MLC and served as Minister of Relief, Rehabilitation, Sports, Youth Welfare and Protocol. in the Maharashtra Government.[4]
[edit] Political career
Deshmukh entered active politics and became member of the Babhalgaon Village Panchayat from 1974 to 1979 and its Sarpanch (village chief) from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad and Deputy Chairman of Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti (Latur District Panchayat Committee) from 1974 to 1980.[2]
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 organised the youth in Osmanabad district and became President of District wing of the Indian National Congress.[2]
He was Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1995 winning 1980, 1985 and 1990 elections.[5] During this period, as the Minister of State and the Cabinet Minister, Deshmukh handled departments such as 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 has been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education.[2]
He lost the elections in 1995 with a margin of 35,000. He was re-elected to the State Legislature from Latur Constituency in the elections held in September 1999 with a strong comeback winning with a margin of nearly 91,000 in two successive election, the highest in Maharashtra. 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 member 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.[5]
He took oath of Chief Ministership for the second time on November 1, 2004.[6][7] In this position he was condemned by the Supreme Court for interference in shielding MLA Dilip Kumar Sananda and his family from money lending complaints by poor farmers.[8]
In the aftermath of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, he took the moral responsibility and offered to resign, which was then accepted by the party.[9][10]
He subsequently entered the Rajya Sabha and was appointed to the Council of Ministers as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28 May 2009.[11]
He was appointed as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises on 19 January 2011 cabinet reshuffle.[12] Later on he was appointed Minister of Rural Development.
He was appointed as Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences on July 12, 2011
[edit] Foreign Tour
Deshmukh had an opportunity to visit Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong in 1980, to study Cooperative Movement in Amsterdam, Netherland and Agricultural Development. He also visited West Germany, France, England, United States and Japan in 1981.[2] As the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he led an official delegation in May 2000, to US 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, Vilasrao kept himself engaged in expansion of the Manjra Co-op. Sugar Mill. The Mill established a world record in 1994-95 and in 1997-98 by crushing the highest quantity of sugarcane[citation needed]. It has won 34 awards on national and international level for excellence in production and management[citation needed].
[edit] Educational activities
Deshmukh founded the Manjra Charitable Trust which runs a number of colleges in Latur & Mumbai. Some of them are Manajara Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital Latur, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology at Versova, Andheri in Mumbai[13] and Sushiladevi Deshmukh Vidyalaya at Airoli, Navi Mumbai. His interests include reading, classical music, volleyball and table tennis.[2]
[edit] Mumbai Cricket Association
On 15 July 2011 Deshmukh was elected President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (2011-onwards). In the election he closely beat former cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar.
• He has played a pivotal role in the Association for allotted land at BKC to create World class Cricket Academy and Club facility during his tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
• Helped many first class cricketers to get allotment of flats through Government Quota.
• Helps budding Cricketers through Vilasrao Sports Foundation Group with Scholarships and grants.
• He has served as the Vice President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (2009-2011).
[edit] Criticism and Allegations
[edit] Extending favours to Film Makers
At 9 Feb 2012, The Bombay High Court has ordered filmmaker Subhash Ghai to return to Maharashtra government 20-acres allotted for his film institute. The court indicted Union science and technology minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for "misusing his official position" as chief minister by showing "undue favours" to Ghai. Deshmukh, the then chief minister, was present when the agreement was signed and had also made an endorsement in the agreement as witness. "Vilasrao Deshmukh has clearly misused his official position as chief minister and it is not acceptable that a CM will personally sign such an agreement, which is illegal. It is clear that Vilasrao has extended undue favours to Ghai's Whistling Woods," the bench said.[14][15]
On December 30, 2008, then CM Deshmukh visited the Taj a day after it was cleared of the Pakistani terrorists. He was accompanied by his actor son Riteish and Varma, who was given a guided tour of the hotel. The filmmaker was also explained at length about where the terrorists had been holed up for four days and how they had exchanged gunfire with the security forces.[16]
The visit triggered a huge public outcry since it was widely believed that Varma had tagged along with Deshmukh to do the groundwork for his film.
[edit] Shielding a Congress MLA's family
In Feb 2011, Vilasrao Deshmukh had also faced severe criticism from the Supreme Court bench of Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice G S Singhvi for shielding a Congress MLA's family from complaints on money lending by poor farmers during his tenure as chief minister.
The Supreme Court had in its December 14 judgement termed Deshmukh's behaviour as "anachronistic and incongruous" and had enhanced to Rs 10 lakh the fine of Rs 25,000 imposed by the Bombay high court on the Maharashtra government.
The court had said the action of Deshmukh was condemnable as he acted beyond "all legal norms" for "political consideration" despite Vidharbha region having the dubious distinction of witnessing the largest number of farmers' suicides.[17]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Department of Heavy Industry". Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. http://dhi.nic.in/. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shri. Vilasrao Dagadoji Deshmukh". Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. http://dhi.nic.in/min-biodata.pdf. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ "Ritesh Deshmukh Biography". apunkachoice.com. http://www.apunkachoice.com//names/rit/ritesh_deshmukh/cid_609/biography/. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ "Dilip Deshmukh takes oath as Cabinet Minister". webindia123.com. 1 March 2009. http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20090301/1188874.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Election result Analysis 1978-2004". Election Commission of India. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S13/partycomp206.htm. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "Wheel has taken full circle for Vilasrao Deshmukh". Rediff.com. 30 October 2004. http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/oct/29maha1.htm. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ "Deshmukh sworn in Chief Minister of Maharashtra". The Hindu. 2 November 2004. http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/02/stories/2004110209660100.htm. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ Supreme Court slams Vilasrao Deshmukh for misuse of power
- ^ . Hindustan Times. 5 December 2008. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Chavan-to-be-new-Maharashtra-CM/Article1-356150.aspx. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Mumbai: the aftermath". World Press. 5 December 2008. http://inside.org.au/mumbai-the-aftermath/. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Big comeback: Deshmukh in Union Cabinet". CNN-IBN. 28 May 2009. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/big-comeback-deshmukh-in-union-cabinet/93527-37.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ "Vilasrao Deshmukh's promotion in Union Cabinet". CNN-IBN. 19 January 2011. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maha-cm-gets-rural-development-ministry/140962-37.html. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "MANJARA Charitable Trust". Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Mumbai. http://mctrgit.ac.in/aboutus.php. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
- ^ India Bollywood director Subhash Ghai 'to return land'
- ^ Bombay High Court indicts Vilasrao Deshmukh in land deal
- ^ Ram Gopal Varma's Taj hotel tour was indeed for 26/ 11 movie
- ^ Maharashtra govt pays Rs 10 lakh fine in Vilasrao case
| Preceded by Narayan Rane |
Chief Minister of Maharashtra 18 Oct 1999 - 16 Jan 2003 |
Succeeded by Sushilkumar Shinde |
| Preceded by Sushilkumar Shinde |
Chief Minister of Maharashtra 1 Nov 2004 - 4 Dec 2008 |
Succeeded by Ashok Chavan |
| Preceded by Santosh Mohan Dev |
Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises 28 May 2009 - 19 January 2011 |
Succeeded by Praful Patel |
| Preceded by C. P. Joshi |
Minister of Rural Development 19 January 2011 - 12 July 2011 |
Succeeded by Jairam Ramesh |
| Preceded by C. P. Joshi |
Minister of Panchayati Raj 19 January 2011 - 12 July 2011 |
Succeeded by Kishore Chandra Deo |
| Preceded by Pawan Kumar Bansal |
Minister of Science and Technology 12 July 2011- Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Pawan Kumar Bansal |
Minister of Earth Sciences 12 July 2011- Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Sharad Pawar |
Mumbai Cricket Association 15 July 2011- Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
- Members of the Cabinet of India
- Members of the Rajya Sabha
- Chief Ministers of Maharashtra
- Marathi people
- Maharashtra MLAs 1980–1985
- Maharashtra MLAs 1985–1990
- Maharashtra MLAs 1990–1995
- Maharashtra MLAs 1999–2004
- Maharashtra MLAs 2004–2009
- Indian politicians
- Indian National Congress
- People from Latur district
- People from Maharashtra
- Marathi politicians
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Members of Parliament from Maharashtra
- Union Ministers from Maharashtra
- Indian Hindus
