Zeeshan Siddique Joins Ajit Pawar's NCP Weeks After Father's Assassination

Mumbai: Weeks after the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, his son Zeeshan Siddique has joined Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday. After joining NCP, Zeeshan Siddiqui said, "This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am thankful to Ajit Pawar , Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare for believing in me in these tough times. 

Zeeshan has been announced as the NCP candidate for the Bandra East constituency, where he won in the 2019 elections, defeating Shiv Sena's Vishwanath Mahadeshwar. After joining the party, he said, “I have got the nomination from Bandra East; I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Bandra East yet again.”

For the Vandre (Bandra) East seat, Zeeshan will be contesting against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arun Sardesai. Hence, the former Congress leader indirectly took a jibe at Congress via a social media post on Wednesday. "I have heard that old friends have declared themselves as candidates from the East. Staying together was never in their nature. Keep a relationship with only those who give you respect and honour. There is no benefit in increasing the crowd. Now the public will decide," he said.

Zeeshan was upset with the Congress after the party gave away his seat Bandra East to the UBT Sena as per the seat sharing formula of the Aghadi. "Maha Vikas Aghadi declared their candidates and Congress' sitting seat was given to Shiv Sena (UBT), this is very unfortunate. Congress leaders and Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders were in touch with me in the past few days...But they intended to deceive. In that difficult time, Ajit Pawar , Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and NCP placed their trust in me. I am thankful to them. It was an unfinished dream of my father that we have to win this seat again and fight fo the rights of people. He was murdered while fighting for this. His blood runs in my veins and I will fight his fight and win Bandra East with a record margin," Zeeshan said.

Earlier in August, he was suspended from Congress for cross-voting in the recent legislative council elections. Congress, Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) are constituents of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Zeeshan's father, Baba Siddique, was murdered by shooters allegedly connected to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in front of Zeeshan's office in the Bandra area on October 12. Zeeshan was the former president of the Mumbai Youth Congress . However, in August, he stated that he was removed 'unceremoniously' and that the Congress was 'sidelining' him.

The NCP ( Ajit Pawar ) also announced its second list of candidates with Sana Malik, daughter of Nawab Malik to contest from Anushakti Nagar and Nishikant Patil to take on Jayant Patil in Islampur.

Earlier, BJP leader Nishikant Bhosale Patil and former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil also joined the NCP. "I have joined NCP today on the direction of our leader Devendra Fadnavis . I had to shift to NCP from the BJP as the Islampur assembly seat went to the NCP. I will win the election from the Islampur seat on the NCP ticket," he said.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.