Zeeshan Siddique joins NCP: Zeeshan Siddique, son of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, on Friday joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, following his father’s footsteps.

The party also announced its list of seven candidates for the upcoming polls and has fielded Zeeshan Siddique as their candidate from Vandre East.

Zeeshan was expelled from Congress in August for allegedly voting against the party during the Maharashtra legislative council elections, a claim he has denied.

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Zeeshan had won the Vandre East seat in the 2019 Assembly election as a Congress candidate. However, the Congress later expelled him. In the Maharashtra election 2024, Siddique will go up against Varun Sardesai of the Shiv Sena (UBT).

After joining the NCP, Zeeshan Siddique took a dig at the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and said, “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 for the rights of the people. He was murdered while fighting for this. His blood runs in my veins and I will fight his fight and win Vandre East with a record margin…”

The 32-year-old leader is the son of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Sidiqque, who was shot dead earlier this month.

NCP releases 2nd candidate list

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Friday also announced its second list of seven candidates. Alongside Zeeshan Siddique joining NCP, Sana Malik, daughter of MLA Nawab Malik to contest from her father’s Anushaktinagar constituency.

Two former BJP MPs, Sanjaykaka Patil (Sangli) and Pratap Patil-Chikhlikar (Nanded) will contest from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal and Loha respectively.

The NCP has named sitting MLA Sunil Tingre as its candidate from Pune’s Vadgaon-Sheri assembly seat, after a tussle over the seat with the BJP.