City Congress Pays Tribute To Vilasrao Deshmukh

The city’s Congress workers and leaders offered their condolences to the demised leader, Vilasrao Deshmukh, on Wednesday after the flag hoisting ceremony.  His close associates in the city remembered the departed leader’s quality as a bankable friend who made great contributions to the development of the city.

 Deshmukh had a special affinity with Pune and it was during his tenure as CM that the city got three Minisers of State. Balasaheb Shivarkar, former MoS in Deshmukh’s cabinet and a close associate, said, “He was a leader whose actions matched the words. He would shower love on workers whom he liked and I was fortunate to be one among them. I don’t have own brother, but he loved me more than a brother. He kept to his word at any cost. His death is a great a loss to Congress party.”

 Explaining Deshmukh’s role in Pune’s growth, Shivarkar said while on way to Latur for Deshmukh’s last rites, “The roads, overbridges  and railway overbridges in the city came up during his tenure. Katraj by-pass and IT park at Hinjwadi were among two big examples. As CM, he helped the city during Commonwealth Youth Games. He loved Pune very much and reminisced often about the 11 years spent in Pune.”

 Ulhas Pawar, one of the closest associates of Deshmukh not only in Pune but in Maharashtra, was inconsolable. On his way to Latur, one of his aides said he was not in a situation to speak anything. Later, the MLC said that he could not believe that his friend of 40-42 years was no more.

 Chandrakant Chajed, also a former MoS and close friend of Deshmukh since his college days, “Deshmukh, Gopinath Mundhe and I were studying together at INS Law College. I used to send him off to stand for Latur on my scootes. His speciality was that he never distanced his old friends even after assuming prominence.”

 MP Suresh Kalmadi also expressed his grief over Deshmukh’s demise. In the condolence message, he said, “The untimely death of Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has saddened me. He was a very statesmanlike, studious leader with a great presence of mind who took everyone along with him. He was a mass leader in true sense. It makes me sad to lose a virtuous friend in him. He put Maharashtra ahead always as a Chief Minister. A visionary leader with a fighting spirit has been lost with his death.”

 Nationalist Congress MP Vandana Chavan also condoled Deshmukh’s passing away. In her message, she said, “Deshmukh was a cultured politician in state as well as country with a big heart. It is saddening that a leader who communicated directly with masses who steered state & country on the path of progress through able administration has been lost. Deshmukh often guided and encouraged the functionaries including me.”

 City party president Abhay Chhajed, convened the condolence meeting for the departed leader at 11 AM on Wednesday. A board was put up at the party’s headquarter Congress House  on Tuesday and also conveyed to the party members informing about the meeting.

 Ramchandra Bhuvad, a veteran of Congress party and Seva Dal, said, “The party’s flag can not be hoisted above the height of the national tri-colour. Hence, we removed the party’s flag from the building on August 9. Now, we are to hold the flag hoisting ceremony at 10.15 AM and then bring the tri-colour at half as a grief periodAfterwards, when the national flag is taken down, the party flag will be hoisted and it will also be brought at half.”

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The Story of Loss and Win

I am writing this post full four after the election results. I have to confess that I, like all in my fraternity, could not read the mood of voters. I thought Anil Shirole will win but it was not to be. Ex-pilot and president of Indian Olympics Association Suresh Kamadi rombed home with a satisfying win having a lead of over 20,000 votes.

It is time for introspection not only for losing political parties but also for us journalists. We were way away from the actual facts and believed that whatever trend we predicted were for real. We did not read the writing on the wall because we thought the analysis we engaged in were substantial. Now that this bubble burst with a heavy wind, we have to get back to business, that is analysis.

To be fair, there was no reason why Kalmadi was to be defeated. He had carried out various development works. He is also a suave politician and keeping with the tradition of Pune constituency, also known for his reach. He has not confined himself with a particular community of strata of society. Kalmadi can be seen in Hi-Tech Pune conference as well as at Eid Milan program organized by city Congress. There is also no criminal connection with his name. Media predicted his defeat solely on the assumption that D. S. Kulkarni will eat away his votes. But that did not happen that way.

Consider these facts: Congress had alliance with Nationalist Congress Party but guardian minister Ajit Pawar chose not to attend any campaign rally in favor of Kalmadi. Being a Brahmin from Karnataka, he had also caste factor against him. He is shrewd enough not to publicize or rather cover this disadvantage. This was the first year when Kalmadi openly spoke in Kannada in a gathering at Congress Bhavan in Pune.

We are always proud of being in the midst of people and having our ears to the ground. But these election results have shown us how far we are from the ground realities. So Congress' win is a loss for us. A loss of face and loss of confidence also.

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