The BJP has named lawyer Ujjwal Nikam who was the public prosecutor in the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks as its candidate from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Nikam replaces Poonam Mahajan, the current MP from this seat, as the party’s candidate.
Mr Nikam was also the prosecutor in the murder case of Pramod Mahajan, the father of Poonam Mahajan, who was shot dead by his brother Pravin in April 2006 following a dispute.
Poonam Mahajan was elected from the constituency in 2014 and 2019. She is also a former president of the BJP’s youth wing.
Party leaders have said the decision to drop her was based on organisational feedback, news agency PTI reported.
“For years, you saw me fighting against the accused in court. But today, BJP has given me the responsibility for which I am thankful to PM Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekar Bawankule, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar,” Mr Nikam told reporters.
“I know that politics is not for me but through you, I would like to tell everyone that the country’s Constitution, laws and security would be my priorities… The constituency from where I have been told to contest is a very important constituency of Mumbai. This has been represented by late Manohar Joshi, Ramdas Athawale, and Poonam Mahajan. These people have always raised questions in parliament,” he said.
Though indications had been there for some time Poonam that Mahajan would be dropped, it was the party’s search for her replacement that took time, sources told PTI.
The Congress fielded its city unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad from Mumbai North Central.
Voting in Mumbai is scheduled on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP also named eight more candidates for the Odisha assembly polls, which will be held alongside the general elections.
