On Thursday, Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party president Ashish Shelar attacked Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar for giving a ticket to Nawab Malik, pointing at the serious charges against him. Shelar said the BJP cannot go along with someone who is facing such accusations.
The candidate, Nawab Malik of the NCP-Ajit Pawar faction, is in the fray from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. ANI quoted Shelar saying, “Ajit Pawar should not have given him a ticket; most people in Maharashtra feel this. The severity of the allegations against him is intolerable.
The BJP’s stand is unequivocal: we are opposed to persons who have relations with international terrorists such as Dawood. If Malik has been given a ticket, we won’t campaign for him and will canvass support for his opponent.”
Yet Shelar seemed very confident about Ajit Pawar’s popularity in Baramati and said that he would win comfortably. “I went to Baramati and saw the good work Ajit Pawar is doing. He delivers on his promises, which has built his reputation,” he said.
Shelar rejected the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, stating it no longer holds relevance. “There is disarray among its members, with conflicts between Nana Patole and Sanjay Raut. Congress itself has splintered into three factions,” he added.
While discussing the Worli seat, Shelar said Milayuti’s candidate, Milind Deora, is more familiar with the constituency than MVA candidate Aaditya Thackeray. “Milind Deora was MP there, and he knows the place very well. We will fully support his victory,” he said. The Assembly elections for the 288 Maharashtra constituencies are scheduled for November 20, and the counting is expected to occur on November 23.
