Not rebel, will stand with Ajit Pawar, don’t need BJP, Shiv Sena’s support: NCP's Nawab Malik
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik, who has been nominated by the Ajit Pawar-led faction for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat, leaving Mahayuti partners BJP and Shiv Sena surprised, stated on Wednesday that he is an official NCP candidate and not a rebel.
An apparent conflict has emerged within the Mahayuti alliance following the NCP's announcement of Nawab Malik as its candidate, while the BJP put forward Suresh Krishna Patil as its official candidate for the seat.
"I am not a rebel. I am an official candidate of the NCP. This seat was given to the NCP. When my name was announced as a candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Shiv Sena and BJP opposed me. They said they would not work for me. I don't want their support. They are free to oppose me and field candidates before me or my daughter. We are ready to face them," he told India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai in an interview.
Malik, sitting MLA from Anushakti Nagar, has left that constituency to his daughter Sana, who is making her debut in electoral politics as NCP candidate.
In light of allegations linking him to underworld figures by the saffron party and the Shiv Sena, Malik firmly rejected such claims, and emphasised his loyalty to Ajit Pawar. "They all alleged that I am Dawood's man or have a link with him, but such a kind of case is not there. They will always oppose me. I stood with Ajit Pawar because he supported me. When we were in trouble, he stood behind my family," he told the news channel.
"I am always with Ajit Pawar and I am not with the BJP or Shiv Sena. They will make such allegations. It is my duty that I have to stand behind the person who supported me," he added.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
