In Maharashtra’s ever-shifting political arena, Zeeshan Siddique, son of former minister Baba Siddique, has joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP, contesting for the Bandra East Assembly seat. This move, seen by some as a well-timed sequel in Maharashtra’s election drama, has left Congress and its alliance, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), facing another twist in an already convoluted script.

Zeeshan’s entry into NCP comes after the Congress seat-sharing saga left his Bandra East stronghold with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Not one to be benched, Zeeshan turned to Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, which offered him the Bandra East ticket, sparking a new wave of speculation. “It was an emotional day for my family,” Zeeshan commented, emphasizing the bloodline and legacy of his father. In what could pass as a pitch-perfect plot twist, he promised to “win Bandra East again, with a record margin,” invoking his father’s dreams and fight for the people.

While the new alliance may seem like a strategic shift to Zeeshan, political observers see it as part of Maharashtra’s evolving ‘musical chairs’ routine. Ajit Pawar, who split from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and allied with the BJP-Eknath Shinde government earlier, continues to build a unique alliance of discontented Congress and Shiv Sena leaders. With elections on November 20 and results slated for November 23, Zeeshan’s campaign aims to bring the Bandra East seat back to his family’s political lineage.