Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that “it will be clear who will contest from where” by November 4, as he addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nationalist Congress Party's ( NCP ) candidate selections.
The remarks come amid mounting criticism, particularly regarding the candidacy of Nawab Malik from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, which has sparked a heated debate within the alliance."By November 4, it will be clear which candidate will contest from which seat," Pawar said on the decision to field Nawab Malik.
The issue erupted after Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar sharply criticized Pawar for fielding Malik, who is under scrutiny due to serious allegations linked to national security. Shelar pointedly said, “BJP cannot associate with such people. We won't campaign for this candidate; instead, we'll support the candidate running against him.”
He further added that the BJP’s firm stance opposes “an international terrorist like Dawood” and reflects widespread sentiments in Maharashtra.
Malik has however, remained unfazed by BJP’s criticism, saying, “This is expected to happen, and we will win with a huge margin in both assemblies.”
Ajit Pawar responded to the backlash during a visit to Malad, where he was campaigning for the assembly elections scheduled for November 20. Pawar, also in the fray for the Baramati seat, had filed his nomination on October 28.
The tussle to win the Baramati Lok Sabha seat between Ajit Pawar and his nephew symbolizes a battleground to win the lost prestige, reclaiming the stronghold of the Pawar family.
Yugendra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s nephew and Sharad Pawar’s grandson, is also contesting for the same seat under the NCP-SP banner, formed post NCP split, back in June 2023.
Yugendra had previously said that while he doesn't expect this to be an easy battle against his own uncle, he also doesn't think it to be particularly difficult.
Prominent coalitions in Maharashtra’s assembly elections are that of the Mahayuti alliance established by the BJP, the NCP (led by Ajit Pawar), Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The assembly elections will take place on November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies planned for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena secured 56 and Congress obtained 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena won 63 while Congress landed at 42.
The remarks come amid mounting criticism, particularly regarding the candidacy of Nawab Malik from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, which has sparked a heated debate within the alliance."By November 4, it will be clear which candidate will contest from which seat," Pawar said on the decision to field Nawab Malik.
The issue erupted after Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar sharply criticized Pawar for fielding Malik, who is under scrutiny due to serious allegations linked to national security. Shelar pointedly said, “BJP cannot associate with such people. We won't campaign for this candidate; instead, we'll support the candidate running against him.”
He further added that the BJP’s firm stance opposes “an international terrorist like Dawood” and reflects widespread sentiments in Maharashtra.
Malik has however, remained unfazed by BJP’s criticism, saying, “This is expected to happen, and we will win with a huge margin in both assemblies.”
Ajit Pawar responded to the backlash during a visit to Malad, where he was campaigning for the assembly elections scheduled for November 20. Pawar, also in the fray for the Baramati seat, had filed his nomination on October 28.
The tussle to win the Baramati Lok Sabha seat between Ajit Pawar and his nephew symbolizes a battleground to win the lost prestige, reclaiming the stronghold of the Pawar family.
Yugendra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s nephew and Sharad Pawar’s grandson, is also contesting for the same seat under the NCP-SP banner, formed post NCP split, back in June 2023.
Yugendra had previously said that while he doesn't expect this to be an easy battle against his own uncle, he also doesn't think it to be particularly difficult.
Prominent coalitions in Maharashtra’s assembly elections are that of the Mahayuti alliance established by the BJP, the NCP (led by Ajit Pawar), Shiv Sena (led by Eknath Shinde) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The assembly elections will take place on November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies planned for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, while the Shiv Sena secured 56 and Congress obtained 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena won 63 while Congress landed at 42.
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