BJP affirms support for Shinde’s candidate, distances itself from Nawab Malik

Ahead of the Maharashtra elections 2024 Bharatiya Janata Party BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay emphasised that the BJP would campaign for Eknath Shindes candidate Suresh Patil in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar and would have no association with Nawab Malik reported news agency ANINCPs Mahayutis alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena have expressed their opposition to Maliks candidature Nawab Malik has expressed confidence in winning the upcoming Maharashtra elections 2024 from the MankhurdShivaji Nagar assembly seatKeshav Upadhyay said I have made our role clear concerning Nawab Malik We have said that we wont campaign there We will campaign for Eknath Shindes candidate in that constituency We will not campaign for Nawab Malik and we will not have any association with him He has been out on bail and he has not been proven innocent The case is going on reported ANIBJPs Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar already clarified that the party would not be campaigning in support of Nationalist Congress Partys Ajit Pawar Nawab MalikKeshav Upadhyay also strongly objected to Arvind Sawants remarks on BJP leader Shaina NC and Sunil Rauts remarks against Shiv Sena Shinde factions Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna KaranjeHe further said It shows the mental bankruptcy of the leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi Yesterday in Kolhapur when a woman candidate tried to take back her nomination a Congress leader asked that if she did not have the courage then why did she fill the form Mahayuti is thinking about women empowerment while MVA leaders are showing how low they can stoop to reported ANIEarlier in a noholdsbarattack on Shiv Sena UBT leader Sunil Raut over his alleged comment on a women candidate Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbadevi seat Shaina NC on Tuesday said that it is time that the women in Maharashtra wake up and raise their voice against such regressive commentsReportedly Sunil Raut while addressing an election rally called the Shiv Sena Shinde factions Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna Karanje a goatReacting to the remark made by Shiv Sena UBT leader Shaina NC said This is the most regressive comment coming from Sunil Raut on one hand they call us Bakri and used the word Maal Look at the mind and thought process On one hand we have a PM who respects womenyou have a CM who has empowered us with the Ladki Bahin scheme and on the other hand we have Maha Vinas Aghadi where you have somebody referring to us as objects reported ANIMeanwhile an FIR has been registered against Sunil Raut the Shiv Sena UBT candidate from Vikroli constituency and brother of Sanjay Raut for his reported objectionable comments against a woman candidate of chief minister Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaThe Maharashtra elections 2024 will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23 In the 2019 assembly elections in Maharashtra the BJP won 105 seats the Shiv Sena 56 and the Congress 44 In 2014 the BJP secured 122 seats the Shiv Sena 63 and the Congress 42With inputs from ANI