Follow Us on Google News
Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, was shot and killed in Mumbai on Saturday. The attack occurred outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office, involving three unidentified assailants.
At 66, Siddique was a significant Muslim political figure in Maharashtra, having served as Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Labour, and FDA. Beyond his political career, he was well-known for his socialite status, famously hosting lavish iftar parties each year.
Born on September 13, 1958, in Patna, Siddique moved to Mumbai as a child and joined the Congress party in 1977 as a teenager. His strong ties to the local community quickly propelled him through the ranks.
In 1980, he became General Secretary of the Bandra Taluka of the Bandra Youth Congress, rising to its president within two years. By 1988, he had assumed the role of president of the Mumbai Youth Congress and was elected as a Municipal Councillor in 1992.
Siddique won his first election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1999, representing the Bandra West constituency. His victory was attributed to his robust grassroots support and ability to engage diverse voter groups. He held the Bandra West seat for three consecutive terms until 2014.
During his tenure as an MLA, Siddique focused on enhancing his constituency’s infrastructure, emphasizing slum rehabilitation, healthcare improvement, and educational advancement.