The assassination of Baba Siddique has shaken Maharashtra’s political landscape when the State is preparing to go for Assembly elections. With the Opposition uniting against the ruling party and demanding accountability, the implications of this murder in the financial Capital of the country is certainly to resonate in the election campaign which has already begun.
Political analysts suggest that the incident may significantly influence voter sentiment, as safety and security are paramount concerns for citizens of Mumbai. The Uddhav Thackeray-Sharad Pawar and Congress combine Opposition is likely to capitalise on the incident terming it as complete breakdown of the law and order of the Eknath Shinde-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime in the State.
Opposition parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) which is part of the ruling coalition, and Congress which in Opposition have condemned the assassination since Congress is Siddique’s parent party where he began his political career, while Ajit Pawar’s faction was his current party. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the position of Home Minister has come in for severe criticism and his resignation has been sought citing a failure to ensure public safety.
Siddique had moved from Congress to NCP’s Ajit faction recently, and he enjoyed a good rapport in all the political parties of Maharashtra which includes two breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and NCP.
The Mumbai police arrested two persons in connection with the brutal murder of the three-time MLA Baba Siddique on Saturday, even as Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar for demanding his resignation over Siddique’s murder.
Identifying the two arrested persons as Gurmail Baljit Singh, a native of Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh, the police said that the third suspect Shiv Kumar, was on the run “We are on the lookout for the third accused,” a senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, mothers of both accused have said that they were not aware of what their sons were up to and had not been in contact with them. Gurmail Singh’s family said that it disowned him 11 years ago and it called for exemplary punishment for his actions.
Meanwhile, under flak from the Opposition parties over Siddiqui’s murder, Fadnavis - who holds the State Home portfolio - slammed Sharad Pawar for demanding his resignation. “I think he (Sharad Pawar) only wants power. Even after such a serious incident, there is a lust for power in his eyes while we are only concerned about Maharashtra. We want to look at Maharashtra. We want to develop Maharashtra. Progress is to be achieved and Maharashtra is to be kept safe. They want to look at the power only and talk.”
Expressing his “profound sorrow” over his party leader Baba Siddique’s murder, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, stating, “The NCP has been devastated by the tragic loss of Baba Siddique, a leader deeply loved by many, and personally, I have lost a dear friend whom I have known for years”.
Ajit Pawar appealed to the Opposition parties to refrain from politicising the murder. “I strongly urge everyone to resist the temptation to politicise this horrifying event. This is not a time for division or for exploiting the pain of others for political advantage. Right now, our focus must be on ensuring that justice is served. We will not rest until those responsible are brought to account,” Ajit Pawar said.
