NCP Ajit Pawar group releases second list; Sana Malik, Zeeshan Siddique to contest from Mumbai

Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui won the seat in the 2019 Assembly election but was later expelled from the Congress over accusations of cross-voting

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ajit Pawar group released the second list of seven candidates on Friday (October 25, 2024), bringing total candidates to 45, for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The list includes former Minister Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik to contest from Mumbai’s Anushakti Nagar.

Son of late NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was shot dead earlier this month, Zeeshan Siddique joined the party on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and will now contest from Bandra East seat. The battle will be between Yuva Sena (UBT) leader Varun Desai and Mr. Siddique.

Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui won the seat in the 2019 Assembly election but was later expelled from Congress over the accusation of cross-voting in Maharashtra legislative council elections. He was also seen participating in Ajit Pawar’s ‘Jan Sanman Yatra’ in Mumbai.

After receiving the ticket, Mr. Zeeshan said, “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. Ajit Pawar called the nomination of Ms. Malik and Mr. Siddique, a part of the 10% reservation for Muslim community candidates that he announced earlier. “Your father’s dream lives through you - I’m with you, every step of the way,” posting on X, Mr. Ajit Pawar said on the nomination of Mr. Siddique.

List of turncoats

Besides, one sitting MLA, Sunil Tingre, the majority of candidates announced in the list joined NCP on Friday, after the list was released. BJP’s former Nanded MP, Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar, also joined the NCP on Friday, to contest from his home turf, Loha in the Nanded district.

The list also includes names of BJP leader Nishikant Bhosale Patil and BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil, who joined NCP (Ajit Pawar) on Friday. Nishikant Bhosale Patil and Sanjaykaka Patil will contest from Islampur and Tasgaon, respectively.

Both former BJP leaders joined 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.

The Islampur battle will be between Nishikant Bhosale Patil and NCP-SP top leader Jayant Patil. Sanjay Kaka Patil will go up against NCP (SP) candidate Rohit Patil, son of late NCP leader R.R. Patil from the Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal seat.

Mr. Tingre’s candidacy from the Vadgaon Sheri Assembly constituency is also controversial due to his alleged interference in the Pune luxury car crash incident.

Published - October 25, 2024 11:12 am IST