Maharashtra Assembly Elections: NCP leader Nawab Malik on Saturday said that he would contest the Maharashtra polls from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar. He announced that he will be filing his nomination on October 29 from the Assembly constituency. This comes after Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded Malik's daughter Sana from the Anushakti Nagar seat, from where is the sitting MLA.
"I will be filing my nomination on 29th October from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly constituency. The public has urged me to contest elections from here. The public is very upset with the hooliganism and drug business which is going on in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. The public wants change and I will be contesting the elections from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar and will surely win...I don't care who is opposing me, the public is supporting me and I will contest the elections," Nawab Malik said.
The BJP has constantly opposed Nawab Malik's inclusion in the Mahayuti alliance, especially after he accused the party of using the Narcotics Control Board for its political agenda when Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested in an alleged drugs case aboard a Cordellia cruise ship.
Malik is currently out on bail in a money laundering case after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in February 2022. He is said to have links with Dawood Ibrahim, who was behind the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
Earlier today, while speaking to ABP News, Nawab Malik had said that the picture regarding his candidature would become clear on October 29. His remark came after attending a meeting with Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar along with NCP leaders Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal.
On being asked about the details of their discussion, Malik said that not all political matters are disclosed and reiterated that things would become clear on October 29.
Maharashtra Assembly polls is scheduled to be held in a single phase on November 20. The results will be announced on November 23.
(With Inputs By Krishna Thakur)