“BJP Workers Will Not Work For Nawab Malik”; Ashish Shelar Maintains Party’s Stance Against Malik

Mumbai:

Since the internal split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Nawab Malik’s alignment with Ajit Pawar, Malik has become a focal point of contention between the BJP and the NCP. Amid recent discussions about giving Malik a ticket for the upcoming state assembly elections, the BJP has raised its strong objections to Malik’s candidacy.

The BJP’s opposition primarily revolves around longstanding allegations linking Nawab Malik to gangster Dawood Ibrahim. BJP MLA Ashish Shelar recently addressed the media in Mumbai, stating that the party refuses to work in support of Malik. “Our stance is clear. The BJP will not support anyone with alleged connections to Dawood Ibrahim,” Shelar said.

In response, the NCP has chosen to field Malik’s daughter, Sana Malik, from the Anushakti Nagar constituency in East Mumbai. It is learnt that Sana Malik has also taken the AB form from the NCP office earlier today, with NCP officials asserting that Sana is unconnected to the controversies surrounding her father, providing the party a way to maintain its support base in the region. However, BJP officials remain sceptical about the NCP’s move.

The dispute originates from Malik’s past as a minister in the previous Mahavikas Aghadi government, during which BJP leaders accused him of links to Dawood Ibrahim and connections with those involved in the Mumbai blasts. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had previously communicated to Ajit Pawar his strong opposition to including Malik in the NCP by writing a letter to him.

By nominating Sana Malik, the NCP hopes to retain its influence in Anushakti Nagar, where Muslim voters prove decisive. With the stakes high, NCP leaders believe the party could not afford to ignore Malik’s established local presence, expecting that Sana Malik’s candidacy could help the party secure essential Muslim votes in the constituency.