NCP has appointed Nawab Malik as the President of the Election Management Committee for the BMC 2025 elections. His daughter Sana Malik and Zeeshan Siddique are included in the committee. The party aims to organize and make the election campaign effective under Malik's leadership and to strengthen its hold on the minority vote bank.
Mumbai: In view of the upcoming BMC elections 2025, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has played a major political card by appointing senior leader Nawab Malik as the President of the Mumbai Election Management Committee. The party's state president Sunil Tatkare announced this decision and said that Malik's daughter Sana Malik, NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique and other important members will also be included in the committee.
The NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, has formed this committee with the aim of making its election campaign in Mumbai more effective. This step is of special importance to the party, as the party has to pay special attention to the minority vote bank in the BMC elections and Malik is being considered the most suitable candidate for this.
Why Nawab Malik was made the President?
Nawab Malik is known for his experience and leadership ability. He has been the President of Mumbai NCP before and has a b hold in the party. The Election Management Committee under Malik's leadership will ensure that the party's election campaign runs in a well-organized and effective manner.
Other members included in the committee are also strategically important. By including members like Zeeshan Siddique and Sana Malik, the party has indicated that it not only trusts experienced leaders but also wants to give a chance to the new generation.
BJP's opposition and political controversy
However, the BJP has objected to Nawab Malik's role before. In December 2023, the then Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote a letter to Ajit Pawar opposing the fact that Nawab Malik was joining the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. Fadnavis had cited serious allegations of treason and links to terrorism against Malik.
Apart from this, in October 2024, BJP's Mumbai president Ashish Shelar had said that the party cannot join hands with leaders who have serious allegations against them. He clarified that the BJP will contest the elections under the leadership of Eknath Shinde and will not campaign for Malik. In the same month, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule also expressed the party's concern about Malik's possible connections and his underworld allegations.
Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had also accused Malik of being a 'terrorist' and said that giving him a ticket by Ajit Pawar's NCP is tantamount to betrayal of the country. These incidents show that Nawab Malik's political career has been constantly in controversies and the BJP has been opposing the campaign led by him.
NCP's strategy and election preparation
The NCP believes that Nawab Malik's leadership will give a new direction to the party in the BMC elections. The aim of the committee is not only to decide the candidates, but also to run the entire election campaign smoothly and in an organized manner. The party has also included prominent leaders from various districts of Mumbai in the committee so that their strategy reaches the polling stations effectively.
Senior party leaders believe that under Malik's leadership, the NCP will be able to strengthen its hold among the minority vote bank and other social groups. Political experts are considering this step as an important electoral initiative of the NCP in Mumbai.
