BMC polls: Mumbai will have mayor from NCP, says Nawab Malik

Senior Nationalist Congress Party NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Friday asserted that Mumbai will have NCP mayor expressing confidence that the party is poised to significantly improve its performance in the BMC Election 2026Addressing his first press conference in nearly threeandahalf years Malik said that if a Chief Minister can be formed in Jharkhand with just one seat the NCP can certainly stake a claim to the mayorrsquos post in Mumbai even with 30 seatsMalik who is also Chairman of the Mumbai Divisional NCP Election Management Committee said there was unnecessary speculation around the partyrsquos prospects in Mumbai adding that the NCPrsquos actual strength would become clear on January 16NCP fields candidates across 94 wardsProviding details of the partyrsquos electoral preparations Malik said the NCP has fielded candidates in 94 wards across Mumbai A nomination for the 95th ward was rejected on minor technical grounds he added In addition the party is extending support to candidates in two areas including Dharavi and Ramabai Ambedkar NagarndashKamraj NagarHe said candidates were chosen after careful deliberation and only in wards where the party believes it has a strong chance of winning Malik expressed confidence that the party would surpass its past electoral performance in Mumbai recalling that since 2002 there had been a perception that the NCP could not cross 14 seats in the cityGreater representation for women and marginalised sectionsMalik underlined that the NCP has given higher representation to women in this election He said the partyrsquos candidates come from diverse professional and social backgrounds including doctors lawyers engineers vegetable vendors and sanitation workers ensuring representation for every section of societyHe added that the party has given opportunities to Marathispeaking candidates and ldquosons of the soilrdquo who see Mumbai as their workplace Candidates from all religions including Muslims and Christians have been fielded Malik also noted that the NCP has given the highest number of tickets in Mumbai to North Indians cutting across castes and communities while also accommodating South Indian and Teluguspeaking candidatesAjit Pawar backs decision to go soloMalik said some leaders had opposed alliances if he was involved but NCP national president Ajit Pawar stood firmly by him He said Pawar took a clear stand that the party did not need alliances and should contest independently Malik expressed gratitude to Pawar for his supportAllegations of irregularities in nomination processRaising serious concerns over the election process Malik alleged arbitrary actions by certain election decision officers He claimed that valid nominations were rejected while ineligible candidates were declared eligible sometimes late at night in violation of rules He cited wardlevel cases involving alleged illegal constructions lack of caste certificates and candidates contesting reserved seats despite ineligibilityMalik said complaints would be submitted to the State Election Commission and warned that officials could face action if violations are proven in court He clarified that he has no objection to the Election Commission as an institution but has concerns about specific officers in wards such as M Ward Vikhroli and S WardNo fixed rival focus on winning seatsMalik said the NCP is contesting against the BJP the Shiv Sena and the Congress in different areas depending on local equations The partyrsquos sole focus he said is on winning seats and reclaiming constituencies including some currently held by the BJPResponding to questions Malik said being accused and being convicted are two different matters and under the law a person can be barred from contesting elections only after conviction not merely on allegations