Ajit Pawar faction says Nawab Malik not yet part of Maha Yuti

Mumbai: The Nawab Malik issue continued to cast a shadow on Maharashtra’s ruling alliance ‘Maha Yuti’ even on Friday. A day after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis objected to Mr. Malik joining the ruling side, chief minister Eknath Shinde said that his party is in total agreement with Fadnavis’s view. The Ajit Pawar faction also denied that the tainted former minister had joined their ranks. Ajit Pawar said he will clear his stand only after Malik decides on his political future.

“I have received a letter from Mr. Fadnavis and I will take appropriate action on it,” Mr. Pawar said without specifying whether he would respond to the BJP leader’s letter or not.

However, the NCP leader also hinted that Mr. Malik has not formally joined his faction. “We as the NCP joined Maha Yuti government on July 2. After that, Mr. Malik attended the Assembly session for the first time on Thursday. We do not know what is his stand on the decision taken by the party. Once he clarifies his decision, I will declare my stand on it,” he said.

Out on medical bail in a money-laundering probe, Mr. Malik attended the winter session of the state legislature here for the first time on Thursday and was later seen in the office of Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP in the legislature complex. In the House, he was seen sitting in the last row of the treasury benches.

Registering his protest against allowing Mr. Malik to join the ‘Maha Yuti’, Mr. Fadnavis wrote a letter to Ajit Pawar. In the letter, the BJP leader said that it would not be appropriate to make the former minister part of their alliance considering the charges against him. It is alleged that Mr. Malik was involved in land grabbing and money laundering in connivance with the gang of Dawood Ibrahim, who is a designated terrorist.

“We agree that it is your prerogative to decide who should be inducted in your party. But every alliance partner has to consider whether it would harm Maha Yuti. Hence, we are opposed to this,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

Clarifying his stand on the issue, CM Shinde said that he agrees with Mr. Fadnavis that it will not be appropriate to induct Mr. Malik in Maha Yuti. “Mr. Malik is facing serious charges and currently he is out on medical bail. He has not been exonerated by the court and there our stand on the issue has not changed. His presence on treasury benches was not appropriate. Every alliance partner in Maha Yuri is free to conduct their party affairs as per their wishes. But (alliance partners have to remember) all three parties have come together for the public and national good,” he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition has upped the ante on the BJP asking why it is not taking the same stand against Praful Patel, who also faces allegations of links with deceased narcotics smuggler Iqbal Mirchi. Shiv Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve said that he has written to Mr. Fadnavis asking him to reveal the names of the people who had ties with Mirchi and explain the action taken against them.

In his letter, Mr. Danve asked, “What is your (Mr. Fadnavis’s) position regarding MP Praful Patel, who is accused of financial dealings with Dawood’s special emissary.”

Congress leader Nana Patole also asked if the BJP does not want Mr. Malik because of his alleged links with Dawood Ibrahim, then how come Praful Patel, who is accused of having links with Mrich, is acceptable to them.

Mr. Patel, who met Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Pawar in the Nagpur Vidhan Bhavan, slammed the opposition saying it has nothing constructive to offer. “Sharad Pawar has clarified everything regarding the allegations against me. My stand is the same I do not need to give explanations to those who have no understanding of the issue. The opposition is demoralised and worried about their future. Narendra Modi will return to power in 2024. Even in Maharashtra, Mr. Shinde, Mr Fadnavis and Mr. Pawar will form the government next year. Therefore they are worried about their future and making baseless statements,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.