[12][13] She was born in Murgod village of Sampgaon Taluk in Belgaum district of then Bombay State (Now Bailhongal Taluk, Belgaum district, Karnataka) to Somashekar Desai and Shanthabai.
Nandini Deshmukh came victorious from Yavatmal in By-elections conducted after her husband's death in 2013.
[22] After her term as Minister, she joined Janata Dal (United) and unsuccessfully contested 1999 elections from Muddebihal.
[23] Later she joined Janata Dal (Secular) to contest 2004 and 2008 from her traditional Muddebihal seat, but could not succeed to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly again.
[24] She was welcomed by B. S. Yediyurappa, who had floated a new Party Karnataka Janata Paksha during 2013 elections after she was denied a ticket by JD(S) and again unsuccessfully contested from Muddebihal seat.