India, Jan. 14 -- Two and a half years after Ajit Pawar decided to split the Nationalist Congress Party founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar, there are now strong speculations about a reunion. In this poll season, Ajit Pawar has taken the help of rival NCP (SP) faction to counter the ruling ally BJP in the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation elections, making it one of the most high-profile electoral battles in these elections. In an interview with Faisal Malik, the straight-talking Ajit Pawar, 66, remains non-committal over any future alliance or maybe even a merger, but does admit that this would benefit both parties and offers a telling, "Nobody is a permanent friend or foe in politics".

Excerpts from the interview:

How has ...