Zeeshan Siddique son of Baba Siddique joins Ajit Pawar-led NCP, to contest from Bandra East
- In Reports
- 12:31 PM, Oct 25, 2024
- Myind Staff
Zeeshan Siddique, son of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, officially joined the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday. Siddique had previously been expelled from the Congress in August, following allegations of cross-voting in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, a charge he had denied.
Describing his decision as an emotional moment, Siddique announced his intention to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections from the Bandra East constituency, a seat he had secured in 2019 while representing the Congress.
"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. 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," he said.
Zeeshan said he wasn't valued by the Congress despite spending several years with the party. He accused Congress of coming under pressure from the Shiv Sena (UBT).
"Several people spoke a lot of things politically, they raised political issues. I lost my father and several people wrongfully used it politically...I would not like to say anything about Congress because they always come under the pressure of the Shiv Sena (UBT). I have spent years in Congress. I am disappointed that Congress didn't always value me," he said.
Zeeshan Siddique expressed confidence in his prospects for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, affirming his commitment to fulfill his late father’s dream of defending the Bandra East seat, which he had initially won in 2019.
Baba Siddique, a two-term Congress MLA from the formerly undivided Bandra constituency, had left the Congress earlier this year to join the NCP before his tragic death.
"It was an unfinished dream of my father that we win this seat again and fight for the rights of people. He was murdered while fighting for this. His blood runs in my veins. I will fight his fight and win by a record margin," Zeeshan Siddique said.
Zeeshan Siddique claimed that certain Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) members had reached out to him, expressing interest in his candidacy from the Bandra East constituency once more. “It is in their nature to deceive,” Siddique remarked, signalling mistrust toward the alliance.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for a single phase on November 20, with votes set to be counted on November 23.
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