NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique pledged to uphold the legacy of his father, Baba Siddique, who was tragically killed earlier this month. He expressed confidence in securing a record-breaking majority in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Speaking to PTI after the NCP nominated him as the candidate for the Bandra East constituency, Zeeshan acknowledged the support of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, who, he said, stood by him in these challenging times. “It was a deeply emotional moment for my family. While some former friends betrayed us, Ajitdada honoured his commitment to me and to the people of Bandra East, who wanted to see me as their MLA. I am determined to win and realise my father’s vision,” he said.
Zeeshan had previously won the Bandra East seat on a Congress ticket in the 2019 elections but was suspended by the Congress for cross-voting in recent council elections. Earlier this year, his father, Congress veteran Baba Siddique, joined the NCP, part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition. Baba Siddique, aged 66, was fatally shot outside Zeeshan’s Bandra office on October 12, and 11 suspects have been arrested.
Reflecting on the loss, Zeeshan shared, “My father’s absence is deeply felt. My sister and I are unmarried, and he often spoke about wanting grandchildren. We never imagined this would happen. I will continue his fight and believe justice will be served for my family.” He also described the profound impact his father had on the community, recalling messages he received about Baba’s acts of kindness, from paying medical bills to covering education expenses. “We’ll carry forward all the love and blessings he received into this election, and I’m confident we’ll achieve a record-breaking victory,” he added.
Zeeshan criticised the Congress for not upholding true secular values, claiming it had failed to secure representation for Muslim candidates. “For the first time, there is no Muslim in the upper house, but the NCP has now nominated one. Ajitdada supports people from all backgrounds and represents true secularism. On the other hand, some parties claim secularism without action, like the Shiv Sena (UBT),” he said.
Regarding his father’s murder, which occurred outside his office, Zeeshan questioned whether he might have been the intended target. “People and the media have suggested it may have been me and if that’s true, then my father protected me even in his last moments. I am here today to continue his mission of protecting and fighting for the people,” he stated, hoping for justice.
Zeeshan also highlighted his work over the past five years in Bandra East, addressing issues in areas like Gareeb Nagar and Bharat Nagar and advocating for housing security. “We’ll show the voters our efforts and sacrifices. I am confident that Bandra East will deliver a historic victory for the NCP,” he said.
The Maharashtra assembly elections for the 288-member body are scheduled for November 20, with votes set to be counted on November 23.
With inputs from PTI