Among Mumbai's most flamboyant politicians, Congress leader Murli Deora is known to be equally comfortable in the company of his party men and the `page three' clique.
A four-term Lok Sabha member, Deora began his political innings as a municipal councilor in 1968. He rose to become Mumbai's youngest Mayor in 1977, capping his decade-old civic career.
During his tenure at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Deora played a key role in setting up the city's water supply and sewage system.
He became a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1982.
Deora was first elected to Lok Sabha from South Mumbai constituency in 1984 in the Rajiv Gandhi wave that swept the nation after Indira Gandhi's assassination. He retained the seat in the 1989, 1991 and 1998 polls. In 2002, he became a Rajya Sabha member.