Announcing his decision to quit the Prithviraj Chavan-led Democratic Front government in September over allegations of a massive irrigation scam, NCP’s Ajit Pawar had said he was in favour of a white paper on the irrigation sector and its early release. He also supported a thorough inquiry into the delays and cost escalations in projects. Now, with talk of the white paper’s impending publication, political circles are abuzz with speculation over Pawar’s comeback plans.

But the white paper is not a chargesheet, a fact that the CM made clear a few days ago. Chavan said the white paper was wrongly being made out to be a chargesheet. Chavan, who has spent a long time at the Centre, said in Delhi a white paper was a fact-sheet on a particular subject. It is apparent that the CM had to clear the air on the white paper after considering the fact that he runs a coalition government in which the NCP is an integral part. If the white paper turns out to be a chargesheet or becomes a part of the ongoing blame game over the maladies in the irrigation sector, the government may not last long.