Dispute in Mahayuti alliance as BJP refuses to support Nawab Malik’s candidature

A dispute within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance emerged on Tuesday as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) nominated former state minister Nawab Malik as its candidate for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat in the upcoming Assembly elections, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to withdraw support and endorse Shiv Sena’s Suresh Krishna Patil, also known as Bullet Patil, for the same constituency.

The Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra comprises the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena, and the NCP group led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Malik, a seasoned politician who previously served as a legislator for the Anushakti Nagar constituency, submitted his nomination on Tuesday, signalling his intention to contest on behalf of the NCP.

Earlier in October, Malik had expressed his intent to run as an Independent from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar following the NCP’s initial refusal to grant him a ticket. This decision reportedly came under BJP influence, raising questions about inter-party pressures within the alliance.

Following Malik's nomination, the BJP’s Mumbai leadership reiterated its stance on selecting candidates independently, emphasizing a refusal to support Malik due to his alleged association with criminal elements linked to Dawood Ibrahim, a figure involved in multiple criminal cases.

In February 2022, Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering investigation involving Ibrahim and his associates, who have been implicated in activities under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Although Malik was granted bail, the ED’s investigation centres on a land deal in which he allegedly paid a significant sum, including cash, to Ibrahim’s sister. This property transaction in Kurla has drawn scrutiny due to the ED’s claim that Malik acquired the land through questionable means, reportedly involving Ibrahim’s associates.

The political complexities within the alliance are evident as various parties weigh their choices amidst Maharashtra’s approaching 288-member Assembly elections, scheduled for a single-phase vote on November 20, with counting set for November 23 alongside the Jharkhand elections.

Meanwhile, separate developments within the alliance added to the strained atmosphere. Shriniwas Vanga, the sitting MLA for Palghar and a member of Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, reportedly went missing after the Palghar seat was assigned to Rajendra Gavit, a former BJP MP who recently switched allegiances to Shinde’s faction.

Before disappearing, Vanga expressed dissatisfaction with his current position, lamenting his departure from Uddhav Thackeray’s undivided Shiv Sena for Shinde’s group. Vanga, who stated he felt betrayed by this recent decision, had initially been assured that sitting MLAs would retain their seats in the upcoming elections. His wife reported that he left his residence on Monday evening and has been unreachable since allegedly intending to meet with Thackeray to apologise for joining Shinde’s faction.

The Mahayuti alliance, already marked by internal divisions, has faced significant changes in recent years. Following the 2019 Assembly elections, the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena broke its alliance with the BJP and formed a government with a united NCP and the Congress under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.

However, in June 2022, a faction of Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Shinde, defected and realigned with the BJP, resulting in Shinde’s elevation to Chief Minister and the bifurcation of the Shiv Sena into two factions.