Chandigarh, October 25, 2024: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has released its second list of candidates for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, featuring seven candidates. Among them is Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of politician Baba Siddiqui, who will contest from Bandra East.
In other key selections, Nishikant Patil has been fielded from Islampur, while Sana Malik, daughter of senior NCP leader Nawab Malik, will run from Anushakti Nagar. Notably, this list also includes two former parliamentarians from the NCP’s ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This announcement follows the NCP’s release of its first list of 38 candidates just one day prior.
Baba Ziauddin Siddique, 66, was shot near his car while he was leaving his son’s office. He died later in hospital. The killing of Siddique, an influential politician who was part of the coalition governing Maharashtra state – of which Mumbai is the capital – has set off a political blame-game. The motive for the murder is not clear yet, but for many it has brought back memories of the 1990s, when politicians and film stars were frequently targeted by Mumbai’s underworld.
Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility of the attack.
