Nawab Malik, a controversial NCP figure, visiting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s residence has stirred political circles. Pawar had called a meeting of NCP’s Mumbai office-bearers to assess the political landscape ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sunil Tatkare mentioned, “My understanding is that his visit was to address key concerns in his constituency. There was no political discourse during the brief interaction.”
Reports suggest that Malik and his daughter, Sana, submitted various representations outlining constituency issues. Later, NCP MP Praful Patel also had a brief session with Pawar. In the recent winter session of the state legislature, Malik, yet to formally declare his stance within the NCP, sparked a controversy by occupying the treasury bench with the Ajit Pawar faction. This action led Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to object to his presence there.
On December 7, Fadnavis penned a strongly worded letter to Pawar, expressing his opposition to Malik’s potential entry into Mahayuti. Fadnavis highlighted Malik’s ongoing legal issues, particularly his arrest in a money-laundering case.
Pawar conveyed his strong disapproval of Fadnavis’s letter, emphasizing that rather than publicizing it, Fadnavis could have discussed his concerns directly. Fadnavis shared his letter to Pawar on X (formerly Twitter).