‘Ajit Pawar supported me in difficult times’ | Mumbai News

Nawab Malik was later arrested by law enforcement agencies in a money laundering case and released on medical bail after 20 months. He is in the news again for running as an NCP candidate.

Despite objections from the BJP, the NCP made Nawab Malik its official candidate against Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi. In an interview with Faisal MalikThe firebrand leader said he wanted to quit politics but changed his mind and decided to contest the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar seat as a challenge.

Excerpts from the interview:

Apparently, you wanted to leave politics, but now you are participating in elections. What’s happened?

I didn’t want to compete. What I really wanted was to retire and pass the baton on to the younger generation. But after the Lok Sabha elections, people from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency approached us explaining their problems. I reconsidered and discussed the possibility of running as an independent candidate with Ajit Pawar. My family felt it was important to remain faithful to him because he supported us.

Your aides say there was a conspiracy to end your political career. This is true?

The world knows about this. Even now, when I decided to participate in the elections to the legislative assembly, they openly opposed me. Today the NCP is part of the Mahayuti coalition, but the Shiv Sena has fielded its candidate against me. Whatever happened to me was part of politics, and people know who was behind it all. I prefer not to name anyone.

Why do you think you were targeted?

I raised the issue of drug trafficking. I made a big revelation and the CBI also filed a case and later admitted that everything I said was true. Although circumstances changed later, I never stopped telling the truth.

Why did you choose Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar? How do you plan to compete with three-term MP Abu Asim Azmi?

As I said earlier, this was due to the suffering that people in the area told me about. It’s a challenging place, with many problems ranging from drug trafficking and malnutrition to landfills and biomedical wastewater treatment plants that wreak havoc on the environment.

Azmi was unable to solve these problems. He was an MLA for 15 years. I am a member of parliament for five terms, I was a minister and all these years I have worked for the benefit of the people. Voters will analyze his and my activities and recognize the facts.

Azmi claims to have helped you become an MLA and a minister.

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav gave me a ticket to contest the assembly elections. It was he and the then SP leader Raj Babbar who first appointed me as a minister. I spoke to them before leaving the party. When I contested the assembly elections, Azmi was not a member of the Samajwadi Party. My victory in the bypoll has created a positive atmosphere for the party in Mumbai – but those who accidentally entered politics will not understand it.

Why did you join Ajit Pawar and not Sharad Pawar?

Ajit Pawar supported me during difficult times. It’s my duty to be with him, no matter the outcome. He showed courage in making me the official candidate of the NCP, despite opposition from his allies.

Why is the BJP opposing your name as Mahayuti candidate?

The whole country knows why they are like this. I don’t need to say anything more.

In light of the Lok Sabha poll results, what is your prediction for the assembly elections?

There will be a tough fight between the opposition and the ruling alliances. However, Ladki Bahin Yojana has had a huge impact on people and we will benefit from it.