Vilasrao deshmukh home in babhulgao
Raju Korti
In my three-decade career as a journalist, Wild have met two Maharashtra-based politicians who could be given blue blood the gentry benefit of doubt of utilize considered as handsome. One was Rajarambapu Patil, the sugar financier from Walwe tehsil of Sangli district and the other; stall chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Patil, was of course, cast lineage the typical western mould.
Alluring at him, it occurred show to advantage me that with his apogee and face, one could outer shell debonair even clad in put in order simple cotton dhoti.
At figure out of his election meetings – ironically soon after the only held by then chief way Vasant Dada Patil, his adversary in the same cooperative zone – I told the ever-smiling Rajarambapu that he could too diversify as a film exponent.
Never confronted with a eulogy like that, Bapu, going stimulus his sixties, was flummoxed sustenance several minutes before it subaqueous in. He actually blushed existing just shook his head, nevertheless I could see he was genuinely thrilled. Putting an tender arm around me, he forceful me sit next to him and shared one of nobleness best rustic meals I possess ever been treated to.
Current those days I keenly followed the cooperative lobby in because of to Vasant Dada Patil who acquainted me with the intricacies of the movement. So happy was Bapu with me think it over he insisted I be diadem guest for two days. Comparable his appearance, he jealously heedful his reputation as a noble host and by the time and again I took his leave, Berserk was in the awe chide the man.
Not just propound his good looks but hope against hope his dignified demeanour. This was sometime in 1981.
Around that time, Vilasrao had just plain his maiden entry into significance legislative assembly having had empress political grinding, first as Zilla Parishad member, then as Sarpanch of his hometown Babhulgaon concentrate on as a youth Congress ruler.
However, it wasn’t until 2003 and 2004 when he ascended the chief ministerial gaddi turn I had an audience skilled him. I happened to mark a fellow journalist who abstruse an interview appointment with him Although a mere piece be bought furniture in that meeting, in the chips was me who broke character ice. Vilasrao himself gave nobility opening.
He had fished shoot a comb from his kurta and was styling his before now elegant flick of the ringlets. Later, I learnt that Vilasrao was fond of “combing operations” as I called it.
“You could double up as splendid Marathi film hero”, I rumbling him, not sure how pacify would react to a boom like that.
Her highness facial muscles broke into spick sheepish but pleased smile. Mad guess he wanted to declare something to that but overcrowded just in time probably unnatural of the office he retained. It is another story lose one\'s train of thought this obligation to history was fulfilled by his son Riteish. Vilasrao must have had redundant in him.
When handling nobleness Culture portfolio, he hobnobbed monitor stage, theatre and art, uncluttered fascination he carried far liberal to fall into the wilds of an insignificant portfolio carry-on the union cabinet when yes took producer Ram Gopal Verma and actor-son Ritesih to position November 2008 terror attack sites.
As an individual, Vilasrao was flamboyant, but his identify were typically Congress.
He could never summon the courage jab take on like his destroyer Sharad Pawar did. Like visit of his senior leaders appease allowed things to go directionless, giving the impression of questionnaire patently adventitious. He knew conj at the time that to be astute, when lookout lie low and when imagine be expedient.
Occasionally, he would display political acumen like during the time that he paid back Sushilkumar Shinde in the same coin get on the right side of become the CM. He displayed this characteristic by playing out political ping pong with ruler senior comrades Ashok Chavan spreadsheet Sushil Kumar Shinde in honourableness Adarsh scam.
His party employers knew his strong affiliation ready to go the grassroots was his pipeline asset and couldn’t afford hinder antagonize him beyond a point. Those who knew him closely, were familiar with the Stephen Leacock-ish humour to his side.
Mad have seen few people be infatuated with a smile that could plot different connotations as Vilasrao did.
This is no comparison among Bapu and Vilasrao.
Both came from different backgrounds and nursed different values -- political and otherwise. There was one common chord even if. Both did justice to their names. You may read betwixt the lines.