Nawab Malik Says Ajit Pawar Wanted Him To Contest Maharashtra Election: 'BJP Has Right To Oppose Me' | Exclusive

Last Updated:October 30, 2024, 11:48 IST

Malik received the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)’s AB form on Tuesday, allowing him to officially contest next month’s Maharashtra assembly election from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency

Nawab Malik had earlier filed his nomination as an independent candidate. (PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the right to oppose me but it was Ajit Pawar who wanted me to contest the Maharashtra election, NCP leader Nawab Malik told CNN-News18 in an exclusive interview amid a row over the last-minute decision to give a ticket to the veteran leader which has left ally BJP fuming.

“Ajit Pawar wanted me to contest. I don’t know why BJP is opposing me though there is definitely an ideological difference between me and them. However, I am confident of winning my seat,” Malik said.

Malik received the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)’s AB form on Tuesday, allowing him to officially contest next month’s Maharashtra assembly election from the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency. He will now lock horns with Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi in a highly anticipated electoral battle.

Malik had earlier filed his nomination as an independent candidate, but following instructions from the NCP, he added the AB form to his candidacy at 2.55 pm and submitted it in just the nick of time before the nomination deadline.

News elections Nawab Malik Says Ajit Pawar Wanted Him To Contest Maharashtra Election: 'BJP Has Right To Oppose Me' | Exclusive