‘Ajit Pawar stood by me in difficult times’ | Mumbai News

Nawab Malik was later arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case and released on medical bail after 20 months. He is in the news again because he is standing as a candidate for the NCP.

Despite objections from the BJP, the NCP has made Nawab Malik its official candidate against Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi. In an interview with Faisal Malikthe firebrand leader revealed that he wanted to retire from politics but changed his decision and decided to contest from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar seat as a challenge.

Excerpts from the interview:

Apparently you wanted to retire from politics, but now you are running in the elections. What happened?

I didn’t want to participate. Actually, I wanted to retire and pass the torch to the younger generation. But after the Lok Sabha polls, people from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency reached out to explain their problems. I reconsidered and discussed the possibility of contesting as an independent with Ajit Pawar. My family felt it was important to remain faithful to him, as he had supported us.

Your aides say there was a conspiracy to end your political career. Is it true?

The world knows about it. Even now, when I decided to contest the parliamentary elections, they were openly against me. Today, the NCP is part of the Mahayuti coalition, but the Shiv Sena has fielded its candidate against me. Whatever happened to me was part of politics and people are aware of those who were behind it. I’d rather not mention anyone.

Why do you think you were targeted?

I had raised the issue of drug trafficking. I made a big revelation and the CBI also filed a case and later accepted that what I said was true. Although circumstances later changed, I never stopped telling the truth.

Why did you choose Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar? How do you plan to compete with a three-term MLA, Abu Asim Azmi?

As I said before, that was because of the misery that people from the constituency talked to me about. It is a challenging place because there are so many problems, from the drug trade and malnutrition to the landfills and biomedical treatment plants, that harm the environment.

Azmi failed to resolve these issues. He has been an MLA for 15 years. I am a five-term MLA, have been a minister and have worked for the people all these years. Voters will analyze his performance and mine and recognize the facts.

Azmi claims he helped you become an MLA and minister.

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav gave me a ticket to contest the Assembly elections. He and then SP leader Raj Babbar appointed me as minister for the first time. I spoke to them before I left the party. When I contested the Assembly elections, Azmi was not part of the Samajwadi Party. My victory in the bypoll created a positive atmosphere for the party in Mumbai – but those who entered politics accidentally will not understand this.

Why did you join Ajit Pawar instead of Sharad Pawar?

Ajit Pawar stood by me in difficult times. It is my duty to be with him, regardless of the outcome. He showed courage by making me an official NCP candidate despite opposition from his allies.

Why is the BJP opposing your name as Mahayuti candidate?

The whole country knows why they do that. I don’t have to say anything more.

In the backdrop of the Lok Sabha poll results, what is your prediction for the Assembly elections?

It will be a tough battle between the opposition and the ruling alliances. However, the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ has had a huge impact on the people and it will benefit us.