BJP Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule criticised NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate Nawab Malik's nomination for Maharashtra Assembly polls, stating, "Malik should accept our wishes..We're firm on our view about [him]," Despite their Mahayuti alliance, BJP has refused to campaign for Malik, with party leader Kirit Somaiya calling him a terrorist over his alleged links with don Dawood Ibrahim.