A qualified mechanical engineer who has served in several Congress ministries, Deshmukh had to resign as the state Congress chief after his party's dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, specifically in his native Vidarbha region.

Shortly afterwards, the party did not re-nominate him when his term as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council expired. No one paid attention when he raised the Vidarbha statehood issue either.

Perennially seen hobnobbing with dissidents, it appeared like his career was going to get a quiet burial. Left with no option, he has entered the fray from Nagpur (West) assembly constituency, a BJP stronghold.

If Deshmukh's gamble pays off and if the party does well in Vidarbha, he will emerge as a strong contender for the top post. He can also draw comfort from party chief Sonia Gandhi's recent offer to 'give justice to Vidarbha' and Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's poor electoral run in Solapur district.