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Vilasrao Dadoji Deshmukh (विलासराव दादोजि देशमुख) (born May 26, 1945) is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra (Term: October 2004 - October 2009). He is a member of the Congress party and originally belongs to Latur Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra. He is the father of Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... List of chief ministers of Maharashtra Yashwantrao Chavan (May 1, 1960 - November 19, 1962) Marotrao Kannamwar (November 20,1962 - November 24, 1963) Vasantrao Naik (December 5, 1963 - February 20, 1975) Shankarrao Chavan (February 21, 1975 _ May 17, 1977 and March 12, 1986 - June 26, 1988) Vasantdada Patil (May 17... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Indian National Congress (also known as the Congress Party) is the largest subscription-based organisation in the world. ... Latur (Marathi: लातुर) is both a district and an important city in Maharashtra, India. ... Map of the districts comprising the Aurangabad Division of Maharashtra. ... , Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , IPA  , translation: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in area and second largest in population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Bollywood (Hindi: , Urdu: ) is the informal term popularly used for Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. ... Ritesh Deshmukh is an Indian actor, hailing from Latur city in Marathwada, Maharashtra. ...

Early life

Deshmukh was born on May 26, 1945 at Babhalgaon in District Latur of Marathwada. 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. He was elected as Director on Osmanabad District Central Cooperative Bank and also on Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.his family members are;wife-Vaishalitai Deshmukh and three son i.e.Amit, Ritiesh & Dheeraj. University of Pune: Main building The University of Pune (formerly the University of Poona) is a university located in northwest Pune. ...

Political career

Deshmukh entered active politics and became member of the Babhalgaon Village Panchayat from 1974 to 1979 and its Sarpanch from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad and Dy. Chairman of Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti from 1974 to 1980.

As a President of Osmanabad District Youth Congress from 1975 to 1978, he worked for the implementation of Five Point Programme of the Youth Congress. He made special efforts to organise the youth in Osmanabad district and became President of Taluka Indian National Congress.

He was Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1995. During this period, as the Minister of State and the Cabinet Minister, Deshmukh handled many departments like Home, General Administration, Cooperation, Public Works, Transport, Legislative Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Fisheries, Industry, Rural Development, Education, Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare,

He was re-elected to the State Legislature from Latur Constituency in the elections held in September 1999. He took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on October 18, 1999. He was Chief Minister till 17 January 2003, 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. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sushilkumar Shinde Sushilkumar Shinde (born September 4, 1941, Sholapur, Maharashtra) is an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra. ... In South Asias caste system, a Dalit; often called an untouchable; is a person of shudra; the lowest of the four castes. ...

He was re-elected to the State Legislative Assembly from Latur Constituency in the Elections held in October 2004. He has been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

He took oath of Chief Ministership second time on November 1, 2004.

Foreign Tour

Shri Deshmukh had an opportunity to visit Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong in 1980, to study Cooperative Movement and Agricultural Development. He also visited West Germany, France, England, United States and Japan in 1981. As the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he led an official delegation in May 2000, to U.S.A. and UK and visited New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Washington and London to interact with the investors to bring investment to Maharashtra.

Manjra Project

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.

Educational activities

Deshmukh founded the Manjra Charitable Trust which runs many colleges in Latur & Mumbai area. Some of them are Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology at Versova, Andheri, Mumbai and Sushiladevi Deshmukh Vidyalaya at Airoli, Navi Mumbai.

His interests include reading, classical music, volleyball and table tennis.