India, Feb. 18 -- NCP chief Ajit Pawar's statement on whether or not his party MLA and cabinet colleague Dhananjay Munde should resign has raised eyebrows in political corridors. Ajit on Sunday declared that the decision to resign should come from Munde himself.

"Munde has no connection to the case; there should be substance in the allegations," he said in defence of his colleague. "However, I had tendered my resignation in 2011 as water resources minister on moral grounds. Former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned after a train accident. But many others have refused to quit under similar circumstances. You should ask Munde whether he will quit on moral grounds."

Apart from his closeness to Walmik Karad, the man who stands accu...