Fadnavis writes to Ajit against Malik's entry in ruling alliance

A surprise appearance by former minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik on the first day of Maharashtra assembly session in Nagpur and his decision to sit on the treasury benches sparked a controversy on Thursday as deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote to his colleague Ajit Pawar and said Malik should not be allowed to join the ruling coalition due to the serious corruption allegations against him.

- Pradip Kumar Maitra and Surendra P Gangan

On Thursday, Malik - who was jailed over money laundering charges and is out on bail -entered the assembly and then went on to sit on the treasury benches, ending months of speculation over his political loyalty and making his intention clear that he had chosen deputy CM Ajit Pawar over party patriarch Sharad Pawar. Treasury benches are reserved for lawmakers from the ruling alliance, of which the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP is a part. Ajit Pawar told reporters that he had called up Malik and welcomed him to Nagpur for the session. "He is a senior leader capable of making his own decision on such matters," he said.

But the developments appeared to have opened a fault line within the three-party ruling coalition, comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. In a letter addressed to Pawar which he posted on X, Fadnavis made his objections clear.