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Ajit Pawar’s NCP has given a ticket to Nawab Malik from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat despite BJP, Shiv Sena opposition.
Nawab Malik will contest as the NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate from Mankhurd. (Photo: PTI)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik will not withdraw his nomination from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency for the Maharashtra election after getting the backing of party chief Ajit Pawar.
Monday is the last day for withdrawing nominations.
Notably, NCP allies in the Mahayuti BJP and Shiv Sena have cleared their stance on Nawab Malik’s candidature despite their opposition and said that they would not campaign for Malik.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had reiterated that Suresh Patil is the official Mahayuti candidate from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat and both BJP and Shiv Sena will campaign for him.
Malik received the last-minute AB form from Ajit Pawar to contest the election on the NCP symbol despite strong opposition from allies BJP and Shiv Sena.
“Ashish Shelar has taken a stance on it, and I support the stance that he has taken. We are not going to campaign for him, then how do we accept him in government? Mahayuti candidate is the Shiv Sena candidate against him (Nawab Malik). Shiv Sena and BJP will support him (Suresh Patil),” Fadnavis had said.
Maharashtra will go to Assembly polls on November 20 and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
