Only one MLA from Solapur has found a berth in the new ministry sworn in under Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Saturday, dashing the hopes of many in the district who were hoping for a larger share.

The lone ministerial berth has come for Laxman Dhobale from the NCP quota while no Congress MLA from the district made it to the first list.

Earlier, there was speculation that former Deputy CM and NCP stalwart Vijaysinh Mohite Patil and Babandada Shinde, who is considered a close aide of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, besides Praniti Shinde, daughter of Union Power Minister and Congress stalwart Sushilkumar Shinde, would be accommodated in the ministry.

The decision of NCP to omit Mohite from the ministry has irked his followers in the district and Mohite, it is believed, is getting ready to show his disappointment by not accepting an offer, that’s being talked about, of a bigger role in the NCP state unit.

When Sushilkumar Shinde was Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the district had enjoyed an upper hand in the ministry. It had one deputy chief minister and four ministers from the Congress and NCP.

Many said it was ironic that when NCP has at least been given one ministry, Congress MLAs from the district have been overlooked. In the last assembly election, Congress had won one seat in the district and was given one ministry but this time even after winning two seats, there was no ministerial berth.

Praniti was being seen as a strong ministerial contender.

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