Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: The polling in Maharashtra is just weeks away and both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition MVA bloc have been suffering dissents and infightings. However, the top brass of both groups have denied any infighting and exuded confidence in winning the upcoming polls. In one such instance, which has raised questions on the unity of the ruling Mahayuti, Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief, Ajit Pawar's face was seen missing from the posters of the Mahayuti alliance in several parts of Maharashtra.
The posters put up by the Mahayuti only carried PM Modi, CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis' faces. Ajit Pawar's face was missing even from the video advertisements on regional television to publicise the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which has given fodder to the opposition's MVA alliance to attack the Shinde-led government in the state.
This is widely seen as a rift between the BJP and Ajit Pawar, which has cropped up in the last few days following the candidature of Nawab Malik from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency. The BJP has also declared that the party leaders would not campaign for the NCP candidate Nawab Malik.
"Ajit Pawar should not have given him a ticket; many in Maharashtra think this way. The serious allegations and chargesheet against him are unacceptable to Maharashtra. The BJP has made its stance clear," Ashish Shelar, BJP Mumbai chief, was quoted as saying by ANI.
"Maharashtra opposes an international terrorist like Dawood. Despite this, if he has been given a ticket, the BJP cannot associate with such people. We won't campaign for this candidate. Instead, we'll support the candidate running against him," he added. Nawab Malik, in his response, said that it did not matter to him whether the saffron party would campaign for him or not; he would emerge victorious in the polls.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism, NCP chief Ajit Pawar stated that “the picture will become clear on November 4,” the final date for candidate nomination withdrawals. Earlier, on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis firmly stated that he and other party leaders would not support Malik “at any cost.” Fadnavis had previously alleged that Malik had connections with underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim. He also mentioned that Mahayuti leaders would instead campaign for the Shiv Sena candidate in Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar.
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