Maharashtra polls: Nawab Malik files 2 nomination forms amid opposition from BJP

His move, which came after he staged a massive show of strength, sparked off high drama. The senior leader went ahead and filed two nomination forms for Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat, one as a candidate of NCP (Ajit Pawar) and another as an Independent.

NCP official candidate

Later, in the day, however, Malik (65) confirmed to the media that he is the NCP's official candidate.

"Today, I filed a nomination from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Vidhan Sabha constituency as NCP candidate. I filed the form as an Independent candidate too. But the party has sent the AB form and we submitted it at 2.55 pm," he said, adding that he is now "an official candidate for NCP." 

He will be pitted against Samajwadi Party's Abu Azmi, who has been winning the seat since 2009.

Earlier, Malik was on tenderhooks as the party's AB form (a form submitted by a political party to confirm its candidate for a seat) had not been submitted. He told the media that if the AB form is submitted in time, he will contest as a party candidate. If not, he will fight independently according to the people’s wishes, he declared. 

Also read: Maharashtra: SC extends NCP leader Nawab Malik's bail in money laundering case 

Confident of victory

But after the AB form was submitted, the leader, who currently represents Anushakti Nagar seat in Mumbai, thanked deputy chief minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar), (NCP Working President) Praful Patel and (NCP Maharashtra unit President) Sunil Tatkare.

“They have confidence in me...A huge number of voters will definitely support me...I am very confident that this time we will win Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency,” Malik said. Meanwhile, Malik’s daughter, Sana Malik has been fielded from the Anushakti Nagar seat. Sana Malik will contest against Fahad Ahmed, the husband of actor Swara Bhashar, who recently joined the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar

Also read: SC grants 2-month bail to NCP's Nawab Malik for medical reasons in money laundering case 

BJP against Malik

Meanwhile, the BJP had been against Malik’s nomination because of the ED case against him and his alleged property dealings with people close to gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

Devendra Fadnavis, who along with Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar were against his nomination, said that he was not aware of the development and said he will “check it and our spokespersons will give the appropriate answers”.

Malik was arrested on February 23, 2022 by the ED under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) - in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the activities of Pakistan-based underworld don, mastermind of the 1993 serial blasts case, Dawood Ibrahim. He is currently out on bail in the case.

The SC granted him bail due to medical reasons in August 2023 and three days later he was out of the hospital.