Mumbai/IBNS: In a spate of endless drama ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, former state Minister and NCP Ajit Pawar-faction leader Nawab Malik filed two nomination forms for Mumbai's Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat on Tuesday, setting off a political controversy and raising doubts about whether he was planning to throw a pre-poll shocker.

The senior politician filed two nomination forms, one as a candidate of NCP's Ajit Pawar faction and another as an Independent.

Quite expectantly the move sparked a buzz.  However, Malik, later in the day, clarified that he is NCP's official candidate.

"Today, I filed a nomination from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Vidhan Sabha constituency as NCP candidate. I am always determined and always ready for the progress and development of Mankhurd-Shivajinagar," he said in a Facebook post.

"I am very thankful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. In this election we want change in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar. This enthusiasm of the people, this enthusiasm, this mass gathering is clear that this time democracy will win in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar," he said.

Earlier, claiming that the party's AB form had not been submitted, he said: "If the AB form is submitted in time, I will contest as a party candidate. If not, I will fight independently as per the people's wish."

A political party submits an AB form to confirm its candidate for a particular seat.

Nawab Malik currently represents Anushakti Nagar seat in Mumbai. This time, Ajit Pawar's NCP has fielded his daughter Sana Malik from this seat, who is up against Fahad Ahmed, who recently joined the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar and is the husband of actor Swara Bhasker.

In the run-up to the upcoming Maharashtra election, Malik had been making a pitch for a poll pass.

His remarks were widely seen as attempts to mount pressure on the leadership to ensure he gets a ticket. Earlier, he had said people had urged him to contest polls from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar.