Of the seven educational institutes that received the best college awards for the year 2013 on the 65th foundation day of University of Pune (UoP) on Monday, five had clear political affiliations.

Odd man out: State cooperation minister Harshawardhan Patil (in Nehru jacket) at the awards ceremony on Monday. Pic/Mohan Patil

A startling incident that came to the fore was the presence of State Cooperation Minister Harshawardhan Patil on the dais, despite not even being invited for the event. Patil’s college in Indapur taluka was one of the seven winners.

Along with chief guest Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Patil handed over the first prize of the best college in rural area to his Indapur Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal’s Arts, Science and Commerce College.