<p>Maharashtra's longest-serving MLA, Ganpatrao Deshmukh, has decided to retire from electoral politics.</p>.<p>The 92-year-old legislator, however, said that he would continue to work for the people and raise issues of public importance.</p>.<p>Deshmukh, who is from Peasents' & Workers' Party (PWP), is an 11-time MLA from Sangole in Solapur district of Western Maharashtra.</p>.<p>He had been influenced with the Leftist thoughts since his student days.</p>.<p>"Yes, I have decided not to contest the elections. However, I would continue to work for people," Deshmukh told DH over phone from Solapur.</p>.<p>Born on August 10, 1927, he is a respected politician known for his honesty, impartiality and his study and knowledge of a wide range of subjects.</p>.<p>He is a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for 56 years.</p>.<p>Deshmukh was first elected in 1962 and then won every election but for 1972 and 1995.</p>.<p>In 2012, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Maharashtra government congratulated him for completing 50 years in electoral politics.</p>.<p>He had served as a minister twice— first in 1978 in the Progressive Democratic Front government headed by Sharad Pawar, that Pawar had formed after splitting from the Congress and in 1999 in the Congress-NCP Democratic Front government headed by the late Vilasrao Deshmukh.</p>.<p>In 2014, when he won the Vidhan Sabha polls, he was 88.</p>.<p>Last month, he undertook an agitation in Sangole demanding release of water from Tisangi lake.</p>.<p>Throughout his political career, he worked for farmers, poor and downtrodden and the women.</p>.<p>He had worked extensively in drought-affected areas.</p>.<p>He has a clean image and despite the age, he is available for the people.</p>
<p>Maharashtra's longest-serving MLA, Ganpatrao Deshmukh, has decided to retire from electoral politics.</p>.<p>The 92-year-old legislator, however, said that he would continue to work for the people and raise issues of public importance.</p>.<p>Deshmukh, who is from Peasents' & Workers' Party (PWP), is an 11-time MLA from Sangole in Solapur district of Western Maharashtra.</p>.<p>He had been influenced with the Leftist thoughts since his student days.</p>.<p>"Yes, I have decided not to contest the elections. However, I would continue to work for people," Deshmukh told DH over phone from Solapur.</p>.<p>Born on August 10, 1927, he is a respected politician known for his honesty, impartiality and his study and knowledge of a wide range of subjects.</p>.<p>He is a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for 56 years.</p>.<p>Deshmukh was first elected in 1962 and then won every election but for 1972 and 1995.</p>.<p>In 2012, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Maharashtra government congratulated him for completing 50 years in electoral politics.</p>.<p>He had served as a minister twice— first in 1978 in the Progressive Democratic Front government headed by Sharad Pawar, that Pawar had formed after splitting from the Congress and in 1999 in the Congress-NCP Democratic Front government headed by the late Vilasrao Deshmukh.</p>.<p>In 2014, when he won the Vidhan Sabha polls, he was 88.</p>.<p>Last month, he undertook an agitation in Sangole demanding release of water from Tisangi lake.</p>.<p>Throughout his political career, he worked for farmers, poor and downtrodden and the women.</p>.<p>He had worked extensively in drought-affected areas.</p>.<p>He has a clean image and despite the age, he is available for the people.</p>