Blood need not be thicker than ambition when it comes to the murky world of politics. Ajit Pawar — he has had himself installed as one of Maharashtra’s deputy chief ministers and shepherded some other Nationalist Congress Party colleagues towards the government led by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party — has shown this to be true. That several of these leaders have allegations of corruption against them may have prompted their move to seek comforting shelter in a BJP alliance and defy Sharad Pawar. Incidentally, the prime minister had spoken out against the NCP’s corruption recently. Presumably, he has no qualms about welcoming these tainted revolutionaries. Of course, any discussion on the upheavals in Maharashtra cannot exclude the machinations of the BJP. Having been outwitted by Uddhav Thackeray and, consequently, losing out on government formation in Maharashtra after the last assembly elections, the party has struck back by, first, splitting open the erstwhile Shiv Sena and, now, rupturing the NCP clan. But vengeance is not the only motive here. The BJP’s transgressions, as is always the case, are equally predicated on political ground realities. Its vice-like grip on the coalition in Maharashtra would be a potent insurance against possible setbacks in some upcoming state elections. Additionally, a weakened NCP could also deal a body blow to the momentum generated by Opposition parties to take on the BJP in the general elections.

Yet, these may not exactly be calm waters that the BJP and its new — dispensable? — allies are navigating. Mr Thackeray seems to have struck a chord with the people in his pursuit of justice for the betrayal that he suffered. Sharad Pawar, a veteran politician, could be even more effective in whipping up public sentiments favourably in this battle of perception. Ironically, Ajit Pawar’s induction could heighten, instead of reducing, tensions within Mr Shinde’s government. There may be legal hiccups too. In its judgment on the coup in the Shiv Sena, the Supreme Court had prioritised the writ of the party president over that of rogue legislators irrespective of their numerical status. So the legal and political fates of Ajit Pawar and his Merry men — Sharad Pawar described their act as a robbery — remain unclear. The pitfalls of political instability are visible. What remains to be seen is whether Maharashtra’s electorate endorses these political predations by the forces of Hindutva.