Vilasrao Deshmukh

Vilasrao Dadoji Deshmukh is an Indian politician from the economically backward Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra. He is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra (Term: October 2004 – October 2009). He is from the Congress party. He is the father of Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh. He graduated in Science (B.Sc) from M.E.S Abasaheb Garware College (Pune University), Arts ( B.A) and Law ( L.LB.) from the ILS Law College (Pune University) and started social activities in his early youth. He took a keen interest in drought relief work. Vilasrao Dadoji Deshmukh was elected as Director on Osmanabad District Central Cooperative Bank and also on Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.

Vilasrao Dadoji Deshmukh has been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education. From April 1995 to October 17, 1999, when he was not in Government, he kept himself engaged in expansion of the Manjara Co-op.Sugar Mill. The Mill is computerised and well equipped with a wireless system. It established a world record in 1994-95 and in 1997-98 by crushing the highest quantity of sugarcane. It has won 34 awards on national and international level for excellence in production and management. He became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra 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.