Mumbai, India

Zeeshan Siddique, son of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui, who was shot dead on October 12, joined the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday (October 25).

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Earlier in August, Zeeshan was expelled from Congress for voting against the party in Maharashtra’s legislative council elections, a claim he denies.

Zeeshan will once again contest for the Vandre (East) constituency, a seat he won in 2019 as a Congress candidate. This time, he will face Varun Sardesai, nephew of Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena faction is allied with Congress and the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

"MVA declared their candidates and the Congress' seat (of Vandre (East) was given to the Shiv Sena (Thackeray's camp) ... this is very unfortunate. Congress and MVA leaders were in touch with me over the past few days... but they intended to deceive. In that difficult time, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and the NCP trusted me," Zeeshan said.

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“It 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 added after joining the NCP.

Referring to his father’s legacy, Zeeshan said, "His blood runs in my veins. I will fight his fight and win by a record margin."

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Baba Siddiqui, 66, was shot down outside Zeeshan’s office in Bandra on October 12. Police have arrested 14 suspects and are investigating potential motives, including possible business rivalry and contract killing.

A former Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Baba Siddiqui served as a Congress MLA for the undivided Vandre seat for two terms. Following the seat’s division in 2008, he represented Vandre (West). Earlier this year, he also left Congress to join Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.

(With inputs from agencies)