Zeeshan Siddique likely to be NCP’s youngest Mumbai president

The NCP plans to appoint 33-year-old Zeeshan Siddique as Mumbai unit president, in a move aimed at strengthening its connect with young voters.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) plans to appoint Zeeshan Siddique as the new president of its Mumbai unit, a move that would make the 33-year-old the youngest Mumbai president of the party.

Zeeshan Siddique is set to take charge as the NCP’s Mumbai unit president as part of the party’s proposed organisational revamp. (PTI)

Siddique is considered close to Parth Pawar, NCP Rajya Sabha MP and son of party president Sunetra Pawar. The appointment would also be indicative of the mother-son duo slowly taking control of the party organisation by appointing individuals of their choice in key positions.

NCP insiders say Pawar has also backed the appointments of Vaishali Nagawade as the NCP’s Maharashtra women’s wing president, Nikhil Thakare as state youth wing president, and Nirmala Nawale as the state president of the Yuvati Congress, the party’s young women’s wing.

Siddique’s proposed appointment would mark his second significant political milestone in just three months. After a two-year hiatus following his defeat in the November 2024 assembly elections from the Vandre East constituency, he was elected as an MLC in May, 2026.

Siddique’s rise marks second political milestone in three months

The party hopes Siddique, whose proposed appointment is part of a rejig of the NCP’s Mumbai unit,

can help the party connect with the youth. “The party hopes his appointment will help revive and expand its organisational presence in Mumbai, where it has struggled to strengthen its foothold for nearly three decades,” said an NCP leader.

At present, the NCP’s Mumbai unit is being headed by two working presidents — Siddharth Kamble and Shivajirao Nalawade. Both are likely to be removed from their positions as part of the proposed organisational revamp.

Siddique was elected as the youngest MLA from Mumbai in the 2019 state assembly elections. He also served as president of the Mumbai Youth Congress before being removed from the post after his late father and former Congress minister Baba Siddique joined the NCP in 2024.

Zeeshan joined the NCP ahead of the assembly elections that year. However, he failed to retain his Vandre East seat.

“I have no idea about my name being under consideration for the Mumbai president’s position. I am ready to take up any responsibility that the party deems fit for me,” Siddique told Hindustan Times.

Zeeshan receives death threat

The Bandra police have registered a non-cognisable complaint after former MLA Zeeshan Siddique approached them claiming he had received a death threat. Siddique said the threat came though a voice note sent to his mobile phone from a Portugal-based number two days ago while he was overseas.

Siddique told the police that the caller identified himself as “Zeeshan Akhtar” and claimed to be associated with a gang. He allegedly threatened to kill Siddique and claimed he had asked a fellow gang member to kill Siddique’s father, Baba Siddique, two years before he was murdered. Members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang have been accused in Baba Siddique’s murder. Zeeshan Akhtar, one of the accused, is absconding. The caller allegedly told Siddique he objected to his alleged “illegal business”.

With inputs from Megha Sood