Zeeshan Siddique, son of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, joined the NCP faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday.
He was expelled from the Congress in August for allegedly cross-voting in the Maharashtra legislative council elections, a charge he had earlier refuted.
Calling it an emotional moment, Zeeshan said that he will contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections from the Vandre East constituency, a seat he won in 2019 on a Congress ticket.
"This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am thankful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare for believing in me in these tough times. I have got the nomination from Vandre East, I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Vandre East yet again," he said.
NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead on October 12 outside Zeeshan's office. He was shot while bursting firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali.
A member of the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for killing Baba Siddique, saying he was targeted due to his close association with Salman Khan.
The Vandre East seat has gone to Congress ally Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of seat-sharing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The party has named Varun Sardesai, the newphew of Uddhav Tahckeray, as its candidate for the seat.
Zeeshan said he wasn't valued by the Congress despite spending several years with the party. He accused Congress of coming under pressure from the Shiv Sena (UBT).
"Several people spoke a lot of things politically, they raised political issues. I lost my father and several people wrongfully used it politically...I would not like to say anything about Congress because they always come under the pressure of the Shiv Sena (UBT). I have spent years in Congress. I am disappointed that Congress didn't always value me," he said.
He claimed that members of MVA were in touch with him and expressed interest in fielding him from the Vandre East constituency again. "It is in their nature to deceive," Zeeshan Siddique said.
