Mumbai/IBNS: Zeeshan Siddique, the son of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique who was murdered by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's group earlier this month, on Friday joined the party faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Sharing the moments from his switching camps, Zeeshan wrote on X, "My father Baba Siddique ji always fought for the poor and weaker sections of the society and firmly believed in hard work & perseverance. As a father It was his dream to see me win these elections after all the work we have done in Vandre east and now it is my duty to fulfil his dream and serve the people of Vandre east.

"Today I formally join NCP and thank Shri Ajit Dada Pawar, Shri Praful Patel ji, Shri Sunil Tatkare ji and the entire NCP family for trusting me in these tough times. I am grateful to Shri Ajit Dada Pawar for his unwavering support and for entrusting me with the responsibility to contest with the blessings of the people and my father’s guidance."

"Humbled by this opportunity, I will seek the people’s mandate and work tirelessly to advance the cause my father dedicated his life to, serving the people of Vandre East and beyond."

Zeeshan had won from the Vandre East on Congress' ticket in 2019.

The Congress had expelled him in August after he allegedly cross voted in a legislative council election. Baba Siddique was also a former Congress leader.

Zeeshan joined the NCP (Ajit Pawar) days after he slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi for allegedly deserting his father who crossed over to Ajit Pawar's party fold in early 2024.

As per the arrangement, the three key partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi - the Sena UBT, Congress, and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) - will each contest from 85 seats.

This will take the total to 255. The rest of the state's 288 seats, 33, will go to the smaller allies of the MVA and some may even be divided between the big three.

The announcement was made by Sena UBT's Sanjay Raut and Congress's Nana Patole.