Last week was full of action. Ajit Pawar said he would remain in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for as long as he lives, and yet couldn’t put an end to the speculations about his future. He himself fuelled speculations further while giving a prolonged interview at a public function in Pune that was attended by his close family, except for some important members, friends and supporters.

His response to various questions indicated that he hadn’t been doing everything willingly in the successive governments, led by the Congress chief ministers in three terms, and later by the Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray. It was understood that many decisions were forced on him by party seniors. He had made a short-lived government with Devendra Fadnavis in 2019 that faded out because the MLAs were stopped in their tracks by his uncle and the party president Sharad Pawar. Ajit made no bones about harbouring ambition to be the chief minister, saying he would stake claim to the post that has eluded him, even now. Food for thought, indeed.