Baba Siddique’s Son Zeeshan Joins Ajit Pawar’s NCP; To Contest In Vandre East (image- twitter/zeeshan_iyc)

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, has joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the National Congress Party (NCP) ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election. Zeeshan was earlier expelled by the Congress in August.

Soon after his induction, the party announced Zeeshan as the party candidate for the Vandre (East) seat. He will contest against Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Varun Sardesai.

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Varun Sardesai is the nephew of ex-chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena faction is allied with the Congress and the Sharad Pawar NCP as part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

Zeeshan was expelled from the party in August after the party reported cross-voting in legislative polls. After joining the party, in his first comments, he hit out at the MVA, accusing them of abandoning him after the murder of his father.

“This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am thankful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare for believing in me in these tough time,” he said.

“I have got the nomination from Vandre East, I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Vandre East yet again…” Zeeshan added.

He had earlier accused Congress after the MVA announced another candidate for the Vandre constituency as well. “I heard old friends have announced their candidates from Vandre East. Supporting was never in their nature. Maintain relations with those who give respect, no point in surrounding yourself with a crowd, now the people will decide,” he wrote. Zeeshan had given early hints of him soon leaving the party in his post.

The Vandre seat has been given to Uddhav Thackeray as part of a seat-sharing deal between MVA allies.

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NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead on October 12 outside Zeeshan’s office. So far, a total of 14 people have been arrested, and police are probing different angles. Meanwhile, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for killing Baba Siddique, claiming that he was targeted due to his close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan.