Nawab Malik's candidature provoked a sharp response from ally BJP, which has firmly refused to campaign for "people connected to Dawood Ibrahim".

The BJP today issued a scathing criticism of the candidature of Nawab Malik, one of the key leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, who was backed by the party at the last minute for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar seat.

Kirit Somaiya accuses NCP's Nawab Malik of being a terrorist, sparking controversy ahead of Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Nawab Malik said that the public has urged him to contest elections from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar as they are very upset with the hooliganism and drug business that is going on in the area.

The BJP and NCP in Maharashtra are clashing over NCP's Nawab Malik's candidature due to his alleged underworld ties. The BJP has rejected his nomination, while the NCP is fully backing him.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has made it clear that it will not campaign for ally Nationalist Congress Party's candidate Nawab Malik in the assembly polls due to his alleged links with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, but has no objection to his daughter's candidature.