Devendra Fadnavis
Following criticism from the opposition, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote to Ajit Pawar, his cabinet colleague and leader of the National Congress Party, on Thursday, expressing his opposition to Nawab Malik, an NCP MLA and suspect in an Enforcement Directorate case, being inducted into the ruling `Maha Yuti’ alliance.
Malik, who was detained by the ED in February 2022 on suspicion of money laundering, was free on medical bail when he attended the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature here on Thursday. He sat on the Treasury benches, suggesting that he was a member of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar.
The opposition attempted to corner the ruling coalition, which also includes the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, by pointing out that Malik had previously been labeled a “traitor” by the BJP (following accusations that he had completed a land deal in Mumbai with the aides of wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim).
Malik has the right to attend the assembly as an MLA, according to Fadnavis’ letter to Ajit Pawar, another deputy chief minister. He also stated that “we (the BJP) do not harbor any personal animosity or grudge” against Malik.
The BJP leader added that Malik was only free on medical bail and that “we are of the opinion that it would not be appropriate to induct him in the Maha Yuti” in light of the accusations he is facing.
We both agree that the decision of who should be admitted to your party is yours to make. However, each Maha Yuti constituent party needs to consider whether it would be detrimental to the alliance. Therefore, we reject this,” Fadnavis continued.
At the time of his arrest, Malik was a cabinet minister in the MVA government headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
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Leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Sushama Andhare, earlier threw shade at Fadnavis, saying he could change his stance on Malik “so quickly that you all had taken out protest marches and disrupted the house proceedings several times (during the MVA government) that you could put a chameleon to shame.” Remarkably, there were no arguments in the assembly about Malik’s decision to join the government, but in the legislative council, Ambadas Danve, Anil Parab, and other Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders attempted to corner the government on the matter.
