In Difficult Times, Zeeshan Siddique Joins Ajit Pawar's NCP to Defend Bandra (East) Seat

In a pivotal moment, Zeeshan Siddique, son of the late Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, has joined Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). His move comes after a challenging period marked by the tragic loss of his father, who was recently killed in Bandra on October 12. With emotions running high, Siddique expressed his determination to continue his father’s political legacy by contesting the Bandra (East) seat, a constituency he won with Congress in 2019.

Siddique’s shift to NCP follows his expulsion from the Congress in August. The Congress claimed cross-voting in the legislative council polls, a charge that led to Siddique’s departure from the party he once represented. His frustration with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance — an alliance of Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena — was evident as he accused the alliance of neglecting him after his father's death. MVA announced that the Bandra (East) seat would be contested by the Thackeray faction, aligning with a broader seat-sharing deal across Maharashtra.

Siddique’s primary opponent for Bandra (East) is Varun Sardesai, the nephew of Uddhav Thackeray. This seat has become a focal point in the state’s political landscape, with MVA backing Sardesai and Siddique joining hands with Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction. “I have got the nomination from Bandra (East), and I am confident that with the love and support of the people, I will win the seat again,” Siddique remarked. He further criticized his former allies, saying, “In that difficult time, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and the NCP trusted me.”

After joining the NCP, Siddique expressed both gratitude and resolve, stating that he would fulfill his father's dream to reclaim Bandra (East) and fight for the rights of its residents. “My father was murdered while fighting for this… His blood runs in my veins, and I will fight his fight and win by a record margin," he told NDTV. A recent post on X, where Siddique criticized MVA’s decision to hand over Bandra (East) to the Thackeray camp, reflected his feelings of betrayal by his former allies. “Supporting was never in their nature,” he wrote, implying a lack of solidarity from MVA leaders.

As Maharashtra prepares for a high-stakes election on November 20, this contest between Siddique and Sardesai is set to be closely watched, with results expected on November 23.