Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on Thursday announced his resignation from the Congress's primary membership with immediate effect after being a member of the party for 48 years. He said there was a lot he "would have liked to express but as they say some things are better left unsaid".

In a post on X, the former state minister said, "I joined the Indian National Congress party as a young teenager and it has been a significant journey lasting 48 years. Today I resign from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party with immediate effect.

"There’s a lot I would have liked to express but as they say some things are better left unsaid. I thank everyone who has been a part of this journey."

Thursday's development comes just days after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders had said that Siddique was expected to join the faction of the party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The NCP leaders made the speculation after Siddique and his son Zeeshan, an MLA, met Pawar on February 1.

A three-time MLA from the Bandra West constituency, Siddique was the former minister of state for food and civil supplies.

He was also chairman of the Mumbai division of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority.

He started as a student leader and was first elected to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a corporator.

Siddique was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly from the Bandra West constituency in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

He was defeated by Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar in the 2014 Assembly polls.

Source: India Today