Lonely at the top

WITH Vilasrao Deshmukh chosen chief minister, Maharashtra8217;s days of uncertainity are behind. But the joy in the Congress camp has been ...

WITH Vilasrao Deshmukh chosen chief minister, Maharashtra8217;s days of uncertainity are behind. But the joy in the Congress camp has been overshadowed by the knowledge of what its lost.

8216;8216;Our contention was that if NCP could do wonders with those portfolios, what was the use in keeping the chief ministership,8217;8217; said one of the Congress leaders. His regret is not without reason. Getting key portfoliois would have helped the Congress improve its show in the next five years as it has taken the bigger hit with 6.9 per cent drop in vote share in these polls. The NCP too lost 4.4 per cent but managed to win nine more seats.

This election also highlighted the importance of the Maratha card. Putting Deshmukh, a Maratha back into the chair, is the Congress8217;s way of countering the NCP8217;s strong Maratha image.

But there is a sense of disappointment in the Congress camp. Says one of its senior leaders: 8216;8216;Humne khoda pahad aur nikla chuha we toiled hard but it yielded us nothing substantial.

With most of the lucrative portfolios going to the NCP, the Congress fears it will find the going tough at the grassroot level. 8216;8216;We may not even win 69 seats next time because we don8217;t have the departments which would help us in image building,8217;8217; says an incumbent Congress minister.

Adds state Congress chief Prabha Rau: 8216;8216;The NCP has got all important portfolios and that8217;s where they would be able to score.8217;8217;

The Congress8217; only consolation is that it succeeded in retaining the cooperation department. But even that, say party leaders, is just not enough.

NCP: War spoils

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HOME
Of late, the NCP has managed to topple the Congress in the popularity charts both in rural and urban Maharashtra. To win popular support, workers of a political party need to have the local police station under their control- which this portfolio will ensure.

ENERGY
This has been key to the Democratic Front8217;s success. The NCP touched the farmer8217;s hearts with its promise of free power.

PWD
Swanky highways and flyovers. This is what gets votes and this is why the NCP is smiling.

TECHNICAL/MEDICAL EDUCATION
With politicians lording over 50 private engineeing and medical collegs in the state, technical and medical education ministries assume great significance in power circles.

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EXCISE
Best way to keep check on liquor barons. With over a lakh bars and alcohol shops across the state, this is a ministry crucial for fund raising.

FINANCE
The key to every department.

CONGRESS

URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Helps in keeping check on builder mafia in a place like Mumbai. With crores at stake, this is definitely a big one.

COOPERATION
In Mahrashtra8217;s politics, the cooperation department gives the ruling party a handle to keep the powerful 8216;Sahakar Samrats8217; kings of cooperation sector who rule over 100 suger mills under control. The department supervises the affairs of cooperative units in sugar, milk and spinning mill sectors8212;which together form backbone of rural Maharashtra8217;s economy.