Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) has decided to field Fahad Ahmed, husband of actress Swara Bhaskar, from Anu Shakti Nagar constituency in the upcoming assembly polls, causing much heartburn among party loyalists.
Fahad Ahmed was till recently the youth president for Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra. He switched to NCP (SP) when the party gave him ticket.
This constituency has for long time been represented by senior NCP leader Nawab Malik. Malik is now with Ajit Pawar's party and his daughter Sana is NCP candidate from Anu Shakti Nagar seat.
Both Sana and Fawad are highly educated. Sana is an architect while Fawad holds a PhD from TISS. He led the anti-CAA agitation in TISS when he was there.
According to sources in the NCP (SP), Anu Shakti Nagar seat belongs to them and Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party was staking a claim on the seat, stating that NCP legislator Malik had joined Ajit Pawar's party. So in order to retain the seat, NCP (SP) asked Fawad Ahmed to join and gave him the ticket.
This constituency has around 30-35 per cent Muslims population. Other big population groups include the Sindhi community and north Indians.
Now with Fahad getting the ticket, it has angered loyalists like Nilesh Bhosle and Sohail Subhedar. Long-time municipal corporator Ravindra Pawar was sounded out for this constituency but he didn't show much interest.
According to Advocate Arvind Tiwari, spokesperson and general secretary of NCP (SP), Fahad is highly educated with an intellectual mind and an alumni of TISS, which is part of the assembly constituency.
He has been politically and socially active and worked with Samajwadi party as State Youth President, hence is a good candidate looking at the demographic status of the assembly constituency, which apart from TISS, has BARC, HPCL, BPCL and many industrial installations being home to highly educated class of people.
It is natural for party aspirants to expect nomination of candidature, especially when they have been actively associated with the party for long and especially the crucial period of past one year.
"But as MVA, we are trying to consolidate and build up a strong team collectively to ensure a strong cohesive force to bring in the change that Maharashtra desperately needs and hence it is natural for give and take among constituents of the alliance to put the best face and foot forward," stated Tiwari.
Advocate Tiwari asserted that party cadres have immense faith in Sharad Pawar and they will certainly put all their efforts to win the seat, their efforts will be certainly recognised in the coming days once the government is put in place and the ensuing municipal elections, which have been too delayed.