140 Marathas in new House

MUMBAI: Peasant and Workers Party (PWP) member Ganpatrao Deshmukh, who has been elected for the ninth term to Maharashtra legislative assembly, is at 77, the senior-most member. The youngest is NCP''s Ramchandra Sale, who is 25-years-old. They mark the two ends of the spectrum that comprises three former chief ministers, a score of former ministers, four members of the legislative council and 12 women.
The new vidhan sabha will be a colourful gathering which has 140 Marathas, 22 Scheduled Castes (SCs), 11 Muslims and nine Brahmins.The 288-member house is a mix of various age groups though the majority - 120 - of them are between 40 and 50 years of age. While 175 members have been elected at least once in the past, 112 will be entering the portals for the first time.
The three former CMs are Sushilkumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Narayan Rane. Another former chief minister, Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, was in the fray but has lost to his grandson, Sambhaji, in Nilanga in Latur district.
Ganpatrao Deshmukh was first elected to the house 50 years ago. Except for his defeat in 1995, he has seen them all, right from first chief minister Y B Chavan. Representing Sangola in Solapur district, he has transformed the once arid area into orchards that produce exotic ''bor'' berries and pomegranate, some of which are exported. The rural economy has undergone a complete change under his stewardship.