Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday wrote a letter to Ajit Pawar expressing reservations about the inclusion of NCP leader Nawab Malik in the Mahayuti alliance, a coalition comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction. The move comes after Malik was spotted on treasury benches during the winter session of the Maharashtra assembly in Nagpur.
Earlier, Nawab Malik, who spent 18 months in jail over a money-laundering case, aligned himself with Ajit Pawar's faction and was seen on the treasury benches. The BJP and Eknath Shinde faction had alleged Malik's connections with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim based on ED accusations.
In his letter, Fadnavis acknowledged Malik's right as a legislator but cited concerns about the allegations against him. Fadnavis noted that while it is Pawar's prerogative to choose party members, every component party should ensure it does not hinder the Mahayuti alliance.
Fadnavis stated, "We cannot agree with the views of the then Chief Minister and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which kept him as a minister even when he was arrested on charges of having links with traitors. I hope you will note our sentiments."
"Former Minister and Member of Legislative Assembly Shri. Nawab Malik came to the legislature area today and participated in the work," Fadnavis wrote in his letter to Pawar. "As a member of the Legislative Assembly, he has that right. I want to be clear right away that we have no personal animosity or grudge against them."
"But, in view of the kind of allegations against him, we believe that it would not be right to take him into the Mahayuti," he said.
"Power comes and goes. Country, however, is more important than power. He is currently out on bail for medical reasons only. We must welcome him if the charges against him are not proven. However, we believe that making him a member of the Mahayuti while there are such allegations is not appropriate. To be sure, you have complete discretion over who you invite to your party. However, every component party must believe that it will not impede the Mahayuti, so we are opposed," Fadnavis added.
In response to the letter, Ashish Shelar reiterated the party's steadfast position. Shelar emphasised that for the BJP, the nation takes precedence over political power, asserting that power may come and go, but certain principles remain non-negotiable.
Despite the objections from Fadnavis and the BJP, Malik confirmed his allegiance to Ajit Pawar's faction by sitting on the treasury benches during the assembly session in Nagpur. Malik's appearance marked his return to the legislative session after nearly two years.
Malik had previously gained attention for his confrontation with NCB officer Sameer Wankhede over the Aryan Khan drugs case. Despite his arrest and imprisonment, Malik's presence in the Nagpur assembly session has reignited political discussions about his alignment and the potential impact on Maharashtra's political landscape.