Pune (Maharashtra): Ganpatrao Deshmukh, a 11-time MLA from the state and a senior leader of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), passed away at a private hospital in Solapur on late Friday evening, said sources. Deshmukh (94), a former state minister, had been undergoing treatment for the last 15 days for old age-related ailments. He was being treated for stones in the gall bladder and recently underwent a surgery. The nonagenarian leader represented Sangola in Solapur district in the state legislative assembly for eleven terms since 1962 across multiple terms and had served as an MLA for 54 years. His last rites will be performed in Sangola.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari condoled the death of Deshmukh and paid rich tributes to him. "Deshmukh carved out a niche for himself in public life. He not only represented his constituency for the longest period in the state assembly and consistently, but he will be remembered for his simple living and high intellect," the CM said.
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"I was saddened to know about the demise of the senior-most leader of the Peasants and Workers Party and the longest term member of the State Legislature Shri Ganpatrao Deshmukh. A model people's representative, Shri Deshmukh maintained his chord with farmers, workers and ordinary citizens all his life. He was an epitome of simple living and high thinking. A man of peace and restraint, Shri Deshmukh was a fearless leader, having friends across the political spectrum. In his demise, the State has lost an institution in State legislature," Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the Governor of Maharashtra said, adding that Deshmukh was an institution in himself.
He got defeated in 1972, but again won in a bypoll in 1974, and in 1995, he lost by a slender margin of 192 votes, said his grandson Aniket Deshmukh. The PWP leader had also won from Sangola in the 2014 state elections for a record 11th time and served in the assembly till 2019. Deshmukh had also served as a minister in the government of Sharad Pawar in 1978 and again in the Vilasrao Deshmukh cabinet (1999) when his party PWP gave support to the Congress-NCP alliance.
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