Amol Deshmukh, Ashish Deshmukh among the next generation of Vidarbha leaders awaiting political debut

NAGPUR: With a host of politicians from the state's Vidarbha region on the verge of retirement from active politics due to advancing age or demitting their offices in Assembly and Parliament, their children are eager to step into their shoes, sources said.

The wards of former MPs Vilas Muttemwar, Datta Meghe, Nitin Raut (all from Congress), former MPCC chief Ranjeet Deshmukh and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh are probables in the line of succession, they said.

Ranjeet Deshmukh's eldest son Dr Amol Deshmukh is keen on contesting from Ramtek Assembly seat, where he has already taken up some social projects and is hopeful that he would get the Congress ticket from the constituency where the party lost in the last three terms.

Forthright in unveiling his plans, Amol said, "My father has been in public life for more than three decades and has served the party in different capacities. I want to carry forward his work. I am fancying my chances from Ramtek seat as Congress has not won from there in the last three elections and may be I can turn it around."

Interestingly, his younger brother Ashish Deshmukh, a staunch protagonist of separate Vidarbha and considered close to senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, has been active in socio-political field in Saoner Assembly constituency, once represented by Ranjeet.

Vishal Muttemwar, the younger son of ex-MP and former Union Minister of State Vilas Muttemwar, is likely to contest from Nagpur-South, presently held by Congress nominee Dinanath Padole. Vilas Muttemwar, a seven-term MP, was defeated by Gadkari from Nagpur Lok Sabha seat in the recent elections.

Nitin Raut's son Kunal, who was actively involved in the party work during the Lok Sabha polls, is also likely to make a political foray from a safe seat, sources said.

While Datta Meghe's eldest son Sagar lost the LS election from Wardha seat, his younger son Sameer is likely to try making his political debut from Nagpur-West Assembly seat.

NCP leader Anil Deshmukh's son Salil is also likely to contest the state polls.

The NCP is hopeful that it would be given one of the six seats in Nagpur in a pre-poll pact with the Congress, sources added.