MUMBAI: NCP president and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar accompanied by NCP working president Praful Patel and food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday called on controversial NCP politician Nawab Malik to persuade him not to contest the assembly election.
When there were reports that NCP is likely to nominate Malik from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar, currently represented by Abu Asim Azmi of the Samajwadi Party, and his daughter Sana from Anushaktinagar for the assembly polls, the BJP, particularly Mumbai president Ashish Shelar and his state counterpart Chandrashekhar Bawankule, took strong objection to it. The BJP said any proposal to nominate Nawab Malik would not be acceptable.
Sana was given the party authorization form, while no decision was taken on Malik.
Malik said he remained determined to contest from Shivajinagar as an independent. "Our leaders met me in connection with my decision to contest the assembly election. I was non-committal," he said.
Malik said he will submit the nomination papers on October 29
Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 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.
Malik came into the limelight after he accused the then Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Samit Wankhede of mischief during raids on a cruise ship. Among the occupants of the cruise ship was Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan. Later it was found that Aryan did not posses drugs. Malik had also lodged a complaint against Wankhede over a liquor shop in his name in Navi Mumbai, as there was controversy over the licence of the shop.
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