Vilasrao Deshmukh, Congress leader and Union minister, dies in Chennai

	Vilasrao Deshmukh, Congress leader and Union minister, dies in Chennai Chennai/Mumbai: Vilasrao Deshmukh, has died in hospital in Chennai. Mr Deshmukh, Science and Technology Minister, had been diagnosed with liver cancer. He was flown by air ambulance from Mumbai to Chennai's Global Hospital last week for a liver transplant, but then went through multiple-organ failure. He was 67. Mr Deshmukh made the incredible journey from a village Sarpanch to one of the big players in the power corridors of Delhi. The two-time Maharashtra Chief Minister was born in a family of landlords on May 26, 1945. After pursuing law from the Pune University, his first major political achievement came in 1974 when he became the Sarpanch of Babhalgaon in Latur District. A successful stint with the Youth Congress propelled Mr Deshmukh to mainstream politics in 1980. Political experts said Mr Deshmukh's astute and thorough knowledge about Maharashtra helped him rise through the ranks quickly. In 1999, the Congress leader became the Maharashtra Chief Minister. Four years later, Mr Deshmukh was forced to make way for Sushil Kumar Shinde, a prominent Dalit member of Congress and now the country's Home Minister, due to internal wrangling in the Maharashtra Congress. But, it was only a year before Mr Desmukh took back the top post in Maharashtra for his second term. The 26/11 Mumbai attacks, however, cost Mr Deshmukh his post and began his slow phasing out of Maharashtra politics. Already facing heat over the shocking attacks, Mr Desmukh resigned after the public outrage <b>...</b>	From: prokonnect Views: 0 0 ratings
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