Ahead of the Maharashtra state elections, Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) unveiled its second list of candidates on Friday. Zeeshan Siddiqui has been nominated for the Bandra East constituency, while Sana Malik will represent Anushakti Nagar.
The announcement came shortly after Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of former NCP leader Baba Siddique, officially joined the NCP in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Zeeshan, who won the Bandra East seat in 2019 by defeating Shiv Sena’s Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, expressed gratitude for the nomination. "This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am grateful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare for their support during challenging times. With the people’s love, I am confident of winning Bandra East again," Zeeshan said.
Zeeshan’s decision to join NCP follows his dissatisfaction with the Congress after they allocated his seat, Bandra East, to UBT Sena under the Aghadi alliance’s seat-sharing agreement.
In Anushakti Nagar, Sana Malik, a 36-year-old architect and lawyer, will be the NCP’s candidate. Sana, daughter of senior NCP leader Nawab Malik, is set to file her nomination on October 28. Nawab Malik has represented Anushakti Nagar in past terms and is anticipated to contest from Shivaji Nagar-Mankhurd this time.
Sana gained recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic for her work within her community. She also managed constituency duties while Nawab Malik served in the Maharashtra cabinet. Following her father’s detention in February 2022, Sana took on additional responsibilities in Anushakti Nagar, focusing on community and developmental projects, especially for women in Nehru Nagar, Mankhurd, and Anushakti Nagar.
Nawab Malik, who served three consecutive terms from Nehru Nagar, shifted to Anushakti Nagar when Nehru Nagar was reserved for SC candidates. Released on bail earlier this year, Nawab Malik remains a prominent figure within the NCP.
In contrast, the BJP's Mumbai president, Ashish Shelar, reiterated his party’s opposition to Nawab Malik’s candidacy due to alleged links to controversial figures. Shelar reaffirmed this stance during a recent interview, underscoring the BJP’s disapproval of Malik’s nomination.
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