In a bold move, Nawaab Malik is set to contest the upcoming elections in Maharashtra under the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Malik has publicly reiterated his steadfast support for both the NCP and Pawar, dismissing recent “irresponsible” remarks made by BJP leaders as unfounded.
Drawing attention to the backing he receives from the residents of Mankhurd, Malik expressed his confidence in the electoral landscape, describing the race as highly competitive. He emphasized that a government lacking Ajit Pawar’s influence would be untenable, reflecting on the significant achievements of the NCP during their previous term. Malik’s commitment to the party and its leadership remains unwavering as he prepares for this pivotal election.
In an exclusive interview with NewsX, Nawab Malik addressed the ongoing Mahayuti tussle.
Why Did He File Two Nomination Forms?
Starting with the interview, Nawab Malik expressed his thoughts on why he filed his nomination under two sets of forms: one as an independent candidate and the other as an NCP candidate. He said, “Whenever a nomination is filed, if the AB form does not reach you in time, your nomination gets canceled. Based on that, we filled out a second nomination as an independent candidate to ensure that it would stand in case the first was rejected. After filing the nomination, we received a call from the leaders’ office that the AB form was being processed. Since the AB form had not arrived yet, we filled out both sets. Around 12:45, the AB form finally arrived, and we submitted it. We are with Ajit Pawar and have been part of the NCP before and still are, and we are contesting the elections under the NCP banner.”
Responding to Allegations
He further spoke about how the BJP, as a partner in the Mahayuti alliance, is leveling various allegations against him, linking him to the fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and associating him with Chhota Shakeel. When asked how he views these allegations, he said, “It doesn’t cost anything to wag one’s tongue. If accusations are being made based on certain documents, let me clarify that there is a money laundering case against me, but there are no cases linking me to any gangster. The Bharatiya Janata Party finds it easy to label any Muslim as a terrorist. If someone is a Muslim, they turn him into a person associated with Dawood. It’s very simple, and the media plays along with this narrative. We have sent notices to many newspapers and television channels, and after that, people stopped writing and speaking.”
Vision for Anushakti Nagar
Towards the end of the interview, he spoke about the seat of Anushakti Nagar given to his daughter, Sana Malik, and the key pressing issues in this election. He said, “When you enter Mumbai, especially coming from New Mumbai to Pune, you see slums on both sides. At the entry point, it feels like the city is a slum-dwellers’ city. When the freeway was constructed, there was an issue of rehabilitation, which we addressed. The moment you enter the city, it should feel like you’ve arrived in an international city. We need to develop the slums properly so that as soon as people enter, they feel a difference with greenery.”
He also spoke about the diversity of individuals residing in the constituency and how the richest and poorest both coexist in the same place, emphasizing the need for skill development. He said, “We first worked on the basic necessities. Now, you will see that even the poorest individuals, along with families like that of Raj Kapoor, live in our constituency. We have uneducated people as well as scientists in our area; the Baba Atomic Research Centre is located here, which is why it is named Anushakti Nagar. There is a diverse population, including high-society individuals. Our approach is to have a visionary development plan, and we are focused on establishing many centers for skill development.”
WATCH THE FULL DISCUSSION HERE:
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