Maharashtra Assembly polls to witness debutants Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana vs NCP (SP)’s Fahad Ahmad clash

However, recent legal issues and allegations have affected Malik’s standing there, leading the NCP to field his daughter, Sana, as their candidate after the BJP opposed Malik’s nomination. Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2022 in a money laundering case linked to gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Malik spent 18 months in Jail before being granted bail on medical grounds by the Supreme Court in August 2023. The BJP has alleged that Malik has links with Dawood.

The NCP-SP has fielded Ahmad, a former Samajwadi Party leader who joined the party recently, saying he is well-educated and young. Ahmad, who came as a surprise entrant in Maharashtra politics, has been active in student politics, notably the CAA and NRC protests.

Moreover, Sharad Pawar’s party’s decision to nominate Ahmad, who is married to actress Swara Bhaskar, aims to draw in the minority vote.

The shifting political landscape in Anushakti Nagar is reflected by the close contests in past Assembly elections between Nawab Malik and Shiv Sena’s Tukaram Kate. Malik narrowly defeated Kate in 2009, only to lose to him by a slim margin in 2014, before reclaiming victory with another narrow win in 2019. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, voters from this constituency showed a preference for Shiv Sena UBT’s Anil Desai, who received 55 per cent votes.

With the total number of voters now rising to around three lakh, the constituency’s electoral dynamics have become even more complex. Both coalitions are hence pouring resources and effort into securing this seat, viewing it as a reflection of the broader political strategies at play statewide.

Sana aims to carry her father’s legacy forward by working towards the problems of the people, primarily health, education and safety. She also views the candidacy as a dual responsibility to take Nawab Malik’s legacy forward in the region amid the possibility of votes splitting after the split in the NCP. “Anushakti Nagar, since its existence, has been Nawab Malik’s bastion where he has done extensive work. When I am on the ground, people express confidence, which makes me believe there are no vote splits as one might think,” she said.

Despite the recent allegations and legal issues surrounding her father, Malik remains strong. “During the brief absence of my father, I took over the groundwork for him. When on the field, I never met even a single person who were opposed to him. I surely felt down then, but there was no effect on the people here which boosted my confidence,” she added.

On the other hand, Ahmad, who describs politics as his passion, has outlined plans to address “gaps” he believes the previous MLA left unfilled. He aims to establish quality schools in partnership models to make use of existing infrastructure and to set up skill centres for youth employment. He is also committed to building a 100-bed hospital to tackle health issues in the region.

“I have studied the constituency’s problems carefully and understood the demand-supply dynamics to create better plans for the people. I have progressive initiatives covering health, education, employment, and other areas of life,” said Ahmad, who also is a political researcher.

Ahmad believes his background in student politics has made him approachable and connected with the people. In addition to his broader plans for the constituency, he has specific initiatives aimed at uplifting marginalised communities, positioning himself as a candidate who prioritises progress over vote bank politics.

With both candidates making their debut in this Assembly election, it will be important to see who the voters support. The outcome will not only shape the political future of the constituency but also reflect shifts in voter sentiment and party loyalty.

Constituency: Anushakti Nagar

Candidates

Sana Malik (Mahayuti)

Fahad Ahmad (MVA)

2.47 lakh total voters

6.09% SC voters

0.31% ST voters

28.8% Muslim voters

Winner in 2019 Assembly polls:

Nawab Malik (NCP) won defeating Tukaram Kate (Shiv Ssena) by 12,751 votes

Party that led the Assembly constituency in 2024 Lok Sabha polls:

Sena UBT’s Anil Desai got 55.41% votes (79,767) in the 2024 LS elections