The Mahayuti is trying to clean the tainted NCP leader by pitting him against controversial Abu Azmi
Mumbai: Though the BJP and its leaders vociferously opposing candidature of NCP leader Nawab Malik for the November 20 Assembly election, it is now revealed that pitting Malik against Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi is a game plan of Mahayuti leaders.
After deciding to stay with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP after the split, Malik suddenly announced his decision to contest the election from a neighbouring constituency. Now, he is entering the fray from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly seat against Samajwadi Party leader Azmi. This has raised many eyebrows in the political circle and the BJP leader Ashish Shelar promptly reacted and said that his party is against the candidature of NCP leader Nawab Malik.
Malik, who has been representing the Anushakti Nagar constituency, will be replaced by his daughter, Sana Shaikh, who was earlier part of Sharad Pawar’s faction after the split, but has now decided to join her father. NCP has announced Sana’s candidature from Anushakti Nagar. This will be her electoral debut. Nevertheless, Malik contesting from Anushakti Nagar is a calculated move of the Mahayuti leaders.
According to sources, the leaders of Shiv Sena, BJP and the NCP strongly feel that Malik is the only person who can check Abu Asim Azmi who is representing Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar for the last three terms. Ajit Pawar himself gave the nod to Malik’s candidature, sources added.
Interestingly, Malik was in the Samajwadi Party for several years.
The population of the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar Assembly constituency is predominantly Muslim and believed to be around 58 percent. Maharashtrians, North Indians, South Indians and Dalits form the remaining 42 percent. Against this backdrop Malik is being regarded as a tough opponent for Azmi. The Samajwadi neta comfortably won the seat even when the Narendra Modi wave swept the country in 2014. In the last election, Azmi’s victory margin was 25,613 votes. Malik has made it clear that he will submit the nomination papers on October 29.
Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday named Sana Malik as the candidate for the Anushakti Nagar assembly constituency. Sana Mailk’s candidature strengthens chances of Nawab Malik contesting the polls from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency as an independent candidate.
Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case involving alleged land and money transactions between an underworld don and him. At the time, Nawab Malik was the most powerful spokesperson of the undivided NCP led by Sharad Pawar. After a prolonged legal battle, Malik was released on medical bail. During the Nagpur session of the state legislature when Malik was seen in the legislature party office, Devendra Fadnavis had written a letter to Ajit Pawar saying he should not be entertained since he has links with the underworld. Then Fadnavis had expressed strong displeasure over the entire episode.
Nawab Malik refused to elaborate over his decision to contest the election from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar. “I am going to file the nomination on Monday,” he said. “The people of Shivaji Nagar-Mankhurd are fed up of the drug menace. I will contest the election from there and win.”
If Malik indeed wins all the blots on him will vanish.
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