On November 4, everything becomes clear: Ajit Pawar about Nawab Malik | Mumbai News

MUMBAI

Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticism of the candidature of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency, party president Ajit Pawar said that “the picture will become clear on November 4 ” – the last date for withdrawing nominations for candidates.

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Ajit Pawar made the statement on Friday while campaigning in Malad village, Baramati.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis stressed that neither he nor his party’s leaders will campaign for Malik “at any cost”. He had earlier accused the NCP leader of having links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Mahayuti leaders will instead campaign for the Shiv Sena candidate in Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar, he added.

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Meanwhile, Malik warned of legal action against those who tried to link him with Dawood. “I will go to court and file a case against them as the allegations are false and baseless,” Malik told a Marathi news channel on Thursday.

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He is contesting from the constituency against Abu Asim Azmi, the three-term Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA. He was ready to fight as an independent candidate despite the BJP opposing his Mahayuti candidature. However, on the last day of nomination submission (October 29), NCP handed over the AB form to Malik, confirming his candidature from the party.

Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2022 in connection with a money laundering investigation, but was granted bail by the Supreme Court on medical grounds in August 2023.