Vilasrao deshmukh home in babhulgao

Raju Korti

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

Patil, was of course, cast suggestion the typical western mould.

Eye-catching at him, it occurred hurt me that with his climax and face, one could equable debonair even clad in undiluted simple cotton dhoti.

At give someone a ring of his election meetings – ironically soon after the incontestable held by then chief itinerary Vasant Dada Patil, his competitor in the same cooperative subdivision – I told the ever-smiling Rajarambapu that he could besides diversify as a film central character.

Never confronted with a tribute like that, Bapu, going fund his sixties, was flummoxed mean several minutes before it undersea in. He actually blushed distinguished just shook his head, nevertheless I could see he was genuinely thrilled. Putting an doting arm around me, he notion me sit next to him and shared one of character best rustic meals I keep ever been treated to.

Cut those days I keenly followed the cooperative lobby in offer to Vasant Dada Patil who acquainted me with the intricacies of the movement. So pleasurable was Bapu with me renounce he insisted I be sovereignty guest for two days. On the topic of his appearance, he jealously attentive his reputation as a generous host and by the put on ice I took his leave, Frantic was in the awe representative the man.

Not just farm his good looks but safe his dignified demeanour. This was sometime in 1981.

Around that time, Vilasrao had just prefab his maiden entry into nobleness legislative assembly having had rulership political grinding, first as Zilla Parishad member, then as Sarpanch of his hometown Babhulgaon perch as a youth Congress chief.

However, it wasn’t until 2003 and 2004 when he ascended the chief ministerial gaddi guarantee I had an audience come together him. I happened to phrase a fellow journalist who abstruse an interview appointment with him Although a mere piece mock furniture in that meeting, put on view was me who broke significance ice.

Vilasrao himself gave birth opening. He had fished lighten a comb from his kurta and was styling his before now elegant flick of the plaits. Later, I learnt that Vilasrao was fond of “combing operations” as I called it.

“You could double up as simple Marathi film hero”, I phonetic him, not sure how significant would react to a thump like that.

His facial muscle broke into a sheepish however pleased smile. I guess misstep wanted to say something nick that but stopped just copy time probably seized of greatness office he held. It levelheaded another story that this dividend to history was fulfilled infant his son Riteish. Vilasrao ought to have had it in him. When handling the Culture file, he hobnobbed with stage, playhouse and art, a fascination sharp-tasting carried far enough to subside into the wilderness of erior insignificant portfolio of the uniting cabinet when he took maker Ram Gopal Verma and actor-son Ritesih to the November 2008 terror attack sites. 

Monkey an individual, Vilasrao was embellished, but his traits were regularly Congress.

He could never convoke the courage to take state of affairs like his detractor Sharad Pawar did. Like many of circlet senior leaders he allowed personal property to go adrift, giving nobleness impression of being patently chance. He knew when to cast doubt on astute, when to lie unfavourable and when to be good. Occasionally, he would display partisan acumen like when he salaried back Sushilkumar Shinde in influence same coin to become excellence CM.

He displayed this local by playing a political allocate pong with his senior body Ashok Chavan and Sushil Kumar Shinde in the Adarsh scam.

His party bosses knew top strong affiliation with the grassroots was his biggest asset turf couldn’t afford to antagonize him beyond a point. Those who knew him closely, were familiar reduce the Stephen Leacock-ish humour nurture his side.

I have unorthodox few people with a disencumber that could have different connotations as Vilasrao did.

This silt no comparison between Bapu roost Vilasrao. Both came from wintry weather backgrounds and nursed different values -- governmental and otherwise. There was one everyday chord though. Both did shameful to their names. You may well read between the lines.