Maharashtra : 11-time Maharashtra MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh dies at the age of 95
Ganpatrao Deshmukh, India’s second-longest legislator and senior leader of the Peasants and Workers’ Party (PWP), died at a private hospital here late last night following prolonged illness. Family sources have given this information. He was 95 and his last rites will be performed at Sangole here on Saturday afternoon.
Deshmukh, a symbol of humility and simplicity, was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 11 times from the Sangole seat since 1962. He also lost the election only twice, first in 1972 and again in 1995 – the second time he was defeated by his own grandson, but by a slight margin of around 190 votes. Deshmukh briefly served as a minister in 1978, when Sharad Pawar was the chief minister.
In 2019, Deshmukh decided to retire from active politics. Late Tamil Nadu CM and DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi was the longest serving MLA. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis have condoled the death of Deshmukh.
