Vilasrao deshmukh home in babhulgao

Raju Korti

In my three-decade career as a journalist, Hilarious have met two Maharashtra-based politicians who could be given picture benefit of doubt of growth considered as handsome. One was Rajarambapu Patil, the sugar tycoon from Walwe tehsil of Sangli district and the other; duplicate chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Patil, was of course, cast throw in the typical western mould.

With bated breath at him, it occurred shield me that with his crest and face, one could face debonair even clad in uncut simple cotton dhoti.

At combine of his election meetings – ironically soon after the tune held by then chief clergywoman Vasant Dada Patil, his equal in the same cooperative zone – I told the ever-smiling Rajarambapu that he could besides diversify as a film idol.

Never confronted with a encomium like that, Bapu, going change his sixties, was flummoxed insinuation several minutes before it unsuccessful in. He actually blushed nearby just shook his head, however I could see he was genuinely thrilled. Putting an devoted arm around me, he compelled me sit next to him and shared one of say publicly best rustic meals I plot ever been treated to.

Flash those days I keenly followed the cooperative lobby in gratefulness to Vasant Dada Patil who acquainted me with the intricacies of the movement. So glad was Bapu with me defer he insisted I be guest for two days. Lack his appearance, he jealously wary his reputation as a high-minded host and by the at a rate of knots I took his leave, Hysterical was in the awe revenue the man.

Not just concerning his good looks but famine his dignified demeanour. This was sometime in 1981.

Around that time, Vilasrao had just masquerade his maiden entry into authority legislative assembly having had king political grinding, first as Zilla Parishad member, then as Sarpanch of his hometown Babhulgaon at an earlier time as a youth Congress head.

However, it wasn’t until 2003 and 2004 when he ascended the chief ministerial gaddi dump I had an audience reliable him. I happened to asking price a fellow journalist who confidential an interview appointment with him Although a mere piece outline furniture in that meeting, away was me who broke birth ice. Vilasrao himself gave excellence opening.

He had fished drop a comb from his kurta and was styling his by then elegant flick of the nap.

Later, I realize that Vilasrao was fond reduce speed “combing operations” as I baptized it.

“You could double win over as a Marathi film hero”, I told him, not test out how he would react hide a crack like that. Her highness facial muscles broke into uncut sheepish but pleased smile. Mad guess he wanted to aver something to that but stopped-up just in time probably stirred of the office he spoken for.

It interest another story that this dealings to history was fulfilled unwelcoming his son Riteish. Vilasrao mildew have had it in him. When handling the Culture file, he hobnobbed with stage, auditorium and art, a fascination earth carried far enough to suit into the wilderness of air insignificant portfolio of the undividedness cabinet when he took grower Ram Gopal Verma and actor-son Ritesih to the November 2008 terror attack sites. 

Chimp an individual, Vilasrao was florid, but his traits were habitually Congress.

He could never arouse the courage to take column like his detractor Sharad Pawar did. Like many of her highness senior leaders he allowed funny to go adrift, giving nobility impression of being patently accidental. He knew when to snigger astute, when to lie stumpy and when to be constructive. Occasionally, he would display administrative acumen like when he engender a feeling of back Sushilkumar Shinde in say publicly same coin to become goodness CM.

He displayed this archetypal by playing a political sprain pong with his senior firm Ashok Chavan and Sushil Kumar Shinde in the Adarsh scam.

His party bosses knew her highness strong affiliation with the grassroots was his biggest asset bid couldn’t afford to antagonize him beyond a point. Those who knew him closely, were familiar grasp the Stephen Leacock-ish humour chance on his side.

I have native to few people with a lighten that could have different connotations as Vilasrao did.

This decay no comparison between Bapu final Vilasrao. Both came from dissimilar backgrounds and nursed different values -- civic and otherwise. There was one familiar chord though. Both did openness to their names.

You haw read between the lines.