Son of late NCP leader Baba Siddique to contest Maharashtra polls from Bandra East; daughter of former Minister Nawab Malik to contest from Anushakti Nagar; former BJP leaders find place in list
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday released its second list of seven candidates for the coming Maharashtra Assembly election. With this, the party has announced 45 candidates.
Former Minister Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik will contest from Mumbai’s Anushakti Nagar, while Zeeshan Siddique, son of late NCP leader Baba Siddique, will contest from Bandra East.
Mr. Zeeshan joined the party on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He will take on Yuva Sena (UBT) leader Varun Desai.
Besides sitting MLA Sunil Tingre, the other candidates announced in the list also joined the NCP on Friday. Former BJP MP from Nanded Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar will contest from his home turf of Loha in Nanded district.
Mr. Zeeshan had won from Bandra in the 2019 Assembly election on Congress ticket. He was later expelled from the party over accusations of cross-voting in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election.
“I was in touch with Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, and they asked me to wait for a few days, but the seat was given to Shiv Sena (UBT). In my difficult time, I am thankful to Mr. Ajit Pawar and NCP for showing trust in me. I will make sure to win with a record margin,” Mr. Zeeshan said.
“Your father’s dream lives through you — I’m with you, every step of the way,” Mr. Pawar posted on X on the nomination of Mr. Zeeshan.
Mr. Pawar called the nomination of Ms. Malik and Mr. Zeeshan a part of the 10% reservation for Muslim community candidates that he announced earlier.
Ex-BJP leaders
The list also includes the names of former BJP leader Nishikant Bhosale Patil, who will contest from Islampur, and former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil. Mr. Patil will contest from Tasgaon. The two leaders joined the NCP on the “direction of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis”.
“I have joined NCP as the Islampur Assembly seat went to the NCP and will now win election on the NCP ticket,” Mr. Bhosale Patil told journalists.