BSP expels Mayawati aide Naseemuddin Siddiqui for anti-party activities

Siddiqui was accused of owning slaughter houses and land in western UP, besides indulging in anti-party activities and taking money from cadre.

In a sudden development, BSP expelled general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui, a prominent Muslim face and close aide of chief Mayawati, for anti-party activities and taking money from cadre.

A file photo shows Naseemuddin Siddiqui, who was expelled from BSP on Wednesday, addressing an election rally in Varanasi ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

BSP leader Satish Mishra announced the expulsion of Siddiqui and his son Afzaal, a zonal coordinator, from the party.

Mishra accused Siddiqui of owning slaughter houses and land in western UP, besides indulging in anti-party activities.

Siddiqui was BSP’s Muslim face and was along with Mishra considered closest aides of Mayawati.

The BSP has also accused Siddiqui of taking money from party cadre, an allegation that has previously been levelled on Mayawati by former party leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak who have since joined the BJP.

Siddiqui’s expulsion is being viewed as a big blow to the BSP that is already reeling under the humiliating loss it received in the 2017 UP polls.

“He was later made the in-charge of Madhya Pradesh but he didn’t go there either,” Mishra said.

Siddiqui hasn’t spoken yet on his expulsion.