Speaking to reporters, the Maharashtra Minister said, "We cannot endorse Nawab Malik, and this was our stand in the assembly elections last year. We have stuck to it now, and we will have the same stand in future as well"
Nawab Malik. File pic
Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Thursday stated that his party will not form any alliance with the NCP under Nawab Malik's leadership for the upcoming civic polls and will not endorse the former minister, who is facing charges in a money laundering case.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Shelar said, "We cannot endorse Nawab Malik, and this was our stand in the assembly elections last year. We have stuck to it now, and we will have the same stand in the future as well. It is not about Malik as a person, but the serious charges he is facing. We cannot compromise on our principles when it comes to the serious allegations of his alleged link with Haseena Parkar."
The BJP leader's comments have come days after a court in Mumbai framed charges against Malik in a money laundering case linked to the activities of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.
When news agency PTI contacted NCP, a leader downplayed Shelar's statements and said Malik was appointed the head of the election committee for Mumbai two months ago and the party is preparing to contest the polls.
"Our politics is not dependent on anyone," said the leader who did not wish to be named.
He further stated that NCP has invited applications from aspirants and will decide on the number of seats it will contest later.
The Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP is a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, along with the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Malik, a veteran politician who has served several terms as an MLA, was the Mumbai unit chief of the undivided NCP. Despite this, the party has never had a significant presence in Mumbai, barring a few pockets.
He also contested the assembly elections from the Shivajinagar-Govandi seat last year but lost to a Samajwadi Party candidate.
According to the investigation agencies, Malik, in connivance with Dawood gang members Haseena Parkar, Salim Patel, and Sardar Khan, participated in the laundering of illegally usurped property located in Goawala Compound in suburban Kurla.
The proceeds of crime were further multiplied by way of "collecting and genuinising rent" through Solidus Investments and Malik Infrastructure, which are controlled by Nawab Malik's family.
The ED had arrested Malik in February 2022. The NCP leader is currently on medical bail granted by the Supreme Court.
(With inputs from PTI)
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