Mumbai, Jan. 14 -- Two-and-a-half years after Ajit Pawar decided to split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), 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. In an interview with HT, the straight-talking leader, 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".

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How has the response been to the NCP in Pune?

I have observed a significant difference between the r...