News Hour: Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh passes away

MUMBAI: Union Science and Technology Minister and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh (67) passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. Mr.Deshmukh was ailing for the past six months with cancer in the liver. He had been taken to a specialty hospital in Chennai on Monday for liver transplant but the transplant could not be done because of medical complications. 

Vilasrao's brother Diliprao Deshmukh said "All members of Deshmukh family including Vilasrao's wife Vaishali ,son Amit, Ritesh and Dheeraj were by his side when the end came at about 1:40 pm. His funeral will happen at his native place Babhalgaon in Latur district on Wednesday in the afternoon." 

Doctors who treated Mr.Deshmukh earlier at the breach candy hospital in Mumbai said that his organs were badly affected because of an infection. Mr.Deshmukh's condition was described to be very critical since the last one week. He was kept on ventilator. Vilasrao Deshmukh had been admitted to a specialty hospital in Chennai after doctors had advised liver transplant which seemed the only option available. Vilasrao had been kept on life support and periodic dialysis for the last seven days. 

Vilasrao's body will be flown to Mumbai and then to his native place in Latur district on Wednesday. Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh expressed grief at Vilasrao's death. In his condolence message PM Manmohan Singh said "Mr. Deshmukh was a trusted colleague and an able administrator who worked at the panchayat, state and central level with admirable dedication." 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who was in Delhi on Tuesday said "We have lost a great visionary leader. Mr.Deshmukh spent his whole life in the service of the people his name is carved on on the hearts of crores of people from Maharashtra and India." 

Born on 26 th May 1945 in village Babhulgaon in Latur district of Maharashtra and educated in Pune, Deshmukh got a degree in law before returning to his village to enter politics. He was elected as member of the village council in 1974. He became the village head (Sarpanch) in 1979. In 1980 a new district Latur was formed in the Marathwada region of the state by dividing Osmanabad, Deshmukh got elected from Latur to the state assembly for the first time and continued to be a member of the assembly for 15 years. 

Vilasrao was member of the assembly and part of the state cabinet till 1995 when Congress lost elections. He handled many important portfolios in the state government including Home, Education, Rural Development and Sports. In 1999 he became Chief Minister of Maharashtra and served twice in this position till 2008. He was later elevated to the Union Cabinet. 
(Source:economicstimes.indiatimes.com)