Prominent Mumbai Congress Leader Baba Siddique Resigns from Party, Joins NCP

Prominent Mumbai Congress leader, Baba Siddique, has announced his resignation from the party after nearly five decades of association. Siddique, who has been an influential figure in Maharashtra politics, served as a minister during the Congress-NCP coalition government. He made his announcement to join the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at an event in Bandra East, Mumbai on February 10.

Siddique, who had a stronghold in the city, took to Twitter to express his gratitude and officially announce his resignation. The 66-year-old politician started his journey with the Congress as a teenager and rose through the ranks with the guidance of actor-politician Sunil Dutt. His son, Zeeshan Siddique, is the current MLA from Bandra East and is expected to follow his father’s footsteps.

The news of Siddique’s resignation comes as another blow to the Mumbai Congress, following Milind Deora‘s departure last month to join Shiv Sena. Congress leaders speculate that the Siddique family’s decision to switch parties might be motivated by self-interest, potentially shielding their business and avoiding possible law enforcement action. Baba Siddique himself has been under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.

While the Siddique family denies rumors of their association with NCP earlier this week, their eventual move has sparked concerns within the Mumbai Congress. There are further speculations that two more Muslim faces from the party, Amin Patel and Aslam Shaikh, might also part ways. Patel, a close associate of Milind Deora, and Shaikh, who is facing an ED probe, could join NCP as well. If these three leave, Varsha Gaikwad, the Mumbai Congress chief and Dharavi MLA, would be the party’s sole representative in Mumbai.

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad expressed disappointment with Siddique’s decision, dismissing it as a self-serving action. Gaikwad criticized Siddique for leaving the party at a critical juncture when she believes the entire Congress Parivar should be united against the alleged threat to democracy posed by the BJP.

The exit of Baba Siddique from the Congress marks the end of an era in Mumbai politics. Siddique’s political career has been eventful, and he has shared close ties with personalities from the entertainment industry. Notably, Siddique’s Iftaar party in 2013 became the backdrop for the much-awaited reunion of Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, ending a long-standing feud between them.

Baba Siddique’s resignation from Congress symbolizes a significant shift in the political landscape of Mumbai. As he embarks on a new journey with the NCP, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and the overall political dynamics of the city.