Mumbai: Baba Siddique Ends 48-Year Association with Congress, Joins Ajit Pawar’s NCP
Mumbai, 10th February 2024: Prominent Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique, made headlines recently with his decision to switch allegiance from the Indian National Congress (INC) to Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This move comes on the heels of Siddique’s announcement of his departure from the Congress, effectively concluding his 48-year association with the party. The decision to join the NCP was widely anticipated, especially following the Election Commission’s recognition of Ajit Pawar’s faction as the legitimate NCP. This shift carries significant implications, particularly with the impending Lok Sabha elections and the evolving political landscape within Maharashtra. Notably, Ajit Pawar had previously aligned himself with the Sena-BJP coalition, distancing himself from Sharad Pawar’s NCP.
Baba Siddique expressed, “After beginning my political journey with the Indian National Congress party in my youth, it has been a significant 48-year-long association. Today, I tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party @INCIndia with immediate effect. There are sentiments I would have preferred to articulate, yet discretion guides that some remain unspoken. I extend my gratitude to all who have been part of this journey.”
Siddique’s departure from the Congress marks the second major setback for the party ahead of the elections, with former Union minister Milind Deora also defecting from the Congress to join Eknath Shinde’s Sena faction. This move comes amid tensions over seat-sharing arrangements between the Congress and the Uddhav Sena, further reshaping the political landscape in Maharashtra.
Baba Siddique’s decision to align with the NCP underscores the shifting alliances and realignments occurring within Maharashtra’s political sphere, setting the stage for a dynamic and closely contested electoral landscape in the forthcoming elections.
