India polls: Modi's BJP fields 2008 terror attacks prosecutor from Mumbai

INDIA'S ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (27) named Ujjwal Nikam, an eminent lawyer who is known for his role as the public prosecutor in a number of high-profile cases, including the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, as its candidate for the ongoing general elections from Mumbai North Central constituency.

The 71-year-old Nikam, who also served in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and considered it as a turning point in his career, will fight Varsha Gaikwad, the chief of the opposition Indian National Congress's Mumbai unit and a state lawmaker of Maharashtra.

Nikam replaces Poonam Mahajan, the daughter of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan who won the high-profile seat in India's financial capital twice in 2014 and 2019, defeating Priya Dutt of the Congress on both occasions.

Read: India elections: Yet another opposition candidate against Modi’s BJP withdraws

Nikam thanked prime minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda and other leaders of the Hindu nationalist party for giving him the opportunity and responsibility. He said the country's Constitution, laws and security will be his priorities.

"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 CM Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. 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," he said, according to a Moneycontrol News report.

Read: India’s ‘Lord Ram’, contesting elections, slammed for leaving constituency after polling

It was reported that Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal backed the BJP's decision to nominate Nikam, saying it is a proud moment for the party to choose someone who would speak against terrorism and find himself aligned with Modi's vision of eradicating terror from its roots. Goyal himself is also contesting this election from Mumbai North constituency.

Nikam, who had played a key role in the conviction of Ajmal Kasab, the only Pakistani terrorist who was caught alive by the Indian forces during the 2008 mayhem that had killed more than 160 people, also praised the Modi government for taking a zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and hailed improvement of India's ties with the Muslim nations under the current dispensation.

Mumbai North Central will go to polls on May 20. Results of the ongoing general elections will be announced on June 4.