Mumbai/IBNS: Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique quit the Congress, in a fresh jolt to the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Siddique, a three-term MLA from Vandre, West, quit the Congress after serving the party for 48 years.

Announcing his resignation on his X handle, the senior leader said, "I joined the Indian National Congress party as a young teenager and it has been a significant journey lasting 48 years. Today I resign from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party @INCIndia with immediate effect.

"There’s a lot I would have liked to express but as they say some things are better left unsaid. I thank everyone who has been a part of this journey."

As per reports, Siddique is likely to join Ajit Pawar's faction of Nationalist Congress Party or NCP.

This comes a day after the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP was given the 'clock' symbol, which was claimed by him as well as the party patriarch Sharad Pawar, by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Siddique had served as the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies under the Maharashtra government from 2004 to 2008.