A top official of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company which distributes power from the project agreed that Maharashtra’s 27 per cent share is ‘‘quite significant’’ but, again, declined to comment on Deshmukh’s vote.

But the opposition is loudly critical.

‘‘It’s unfortunate for Maharashtra how Deshmukh voted. His vote is against development, I don’t understand why he just threw up his hands this way?’’ said Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray, back from hugging Modi and scoring for the Sena with the Gujarati community.

‘‘Deshmukh’s vote betrayed Maharashtra,’’ says BJP’s Maharashtra chief Nitin Gadkari who raised the issue in the Assembly.

‘‘Both Modi and I had telephoned Deshmukh to plead with him to support the dam work. But Deshmukh’s aim is to hold on to his post, ready to make any compromise. The SC decision on letting work continue has exposed the Centre and Vilasrao.’’

Having ex-CM Sushilkumar Shinde heading the Union Power Ministry isn’t proving a quick fix for Maharashtra’s power crisis either. Political rival Deshmukh was replaced by Shinde as CM in 2003—until Deshmukh again took over from Shinde as CM in 2004.

Power flow
Share of states in the current 1,250 MW capacity:
MP: 57%
Maharashtra: 27%
Gujarat: 16%