Deshmukh state’s 1st MLA of 50 yrs
Peasant and Workers Party MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh (77) was felicitated by the Mantralaya Patrakar Sangh on Tuesday for completing 50 years in the state Assembly. Mr Deshmukh is the second legislator in the country — after DMK leader M. Karunanidhi — to have won the state Assembly elections 10 times.
Mr Deshmukh, who has consistently been elected from Sangola constituency in the Solapur district, is currently in his 10th term in the Assembly. He was first elected as MLA in 1962 and since then, except for the 1972 and 1995 elections, he has won 10 elections.
He has twice served as a minister in the state. The first time was when Sharad Pawar formed the Progressive Democratic Front government in 1978. His second term as minister was in 1999, when his party PWP supported Congress-NCP alliance in the state.
Speaking at the felicitation, Mr Deshmukh expressed gratitude to the voters of the Sangola constituency. Further, Mr Deshmukh, who is known for his dedication in the business of the House said that he wanted to continue his work “as a few things still remain incomplete — one has to bring water in 13 drought prone talukas”.
“I never thought that I would ever become MLA. But after coming to Pune for studies, I got attracted to the leftist ideology and still believe that Marxism can change the society,” said Mr Deshmukh adding, that one day there has to be a revolution to change the system.
Speaker of legislative Assembly Dilip Valse-Patil said “There is always the need to have someone in the House to whom, I as a speaker, can look up to for guidance, someone who has the authority to speak and guide. There are 50 per cent new MLAs, but not many of them seem to be taking much interest in the business of the House. In such circumstances, someone who has done such a good job as MLA for 50-long years is quite commendable.”
Meanwhile, urban development minister Jayant Patil said that Mr Deshmukh’s achievement was commendable, considering the fact that the process of elections, the ethics, etc. have changed over the years.
“Mr Deshmukh and his ideology has overridden all the changes,” he maintained.
Senior journalist Kumar Ketkar also praised Mr Deshmukh. “As an MLA,he has lived by his principles and ideology, which is a mixture of Marxism and Gandhism-depicted through service and sacrifice,” Mr Ketkar said.
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