Zeeshan Siddique named Mumbai NCP chief; working president Siddharth Kamble resigns

Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has taken a major decision after the elections to 5 seats of the Legislative Council in the state. The party has handed the responsibility of Mumbai president to Zeeshan Siddique. According to reports, the appointment was made on the initiative of Parth Pawar. Siddique's elevation has set off discussion in political circles.

The appointment has also caused resentment within the party. After Siddique became president, the party's Mumbai working president, Siddharth Kamble, resigned from his post. He announced this himself in a Facebook post.

Kamble also said that the NCP's Mumbai office-bearers will soon meet the party president in protest against the appointment. This is how the resentment in the party over the choice of Mumbai president has come to light.

At the start of his post, Kamble wrote that though he has lost "Dada's" company, his ideas are still alive. He wrote that although he has given up the post, the lamp of loyalty continues to burn. According to Kamble, he got the chance to work under the guidance of Ajitdada Pawar for the past 27 years, since the founding of the party. He wrote that over this long journey, Dada encouraged him from time to time, seeing his work as a Dalit face and in the cooperative sector.

Kamble wrote in the post that, unfortunately, Dada died 9 months ago and since then he has truly felt orphaned. According to him, after Dada, "Sunetra Bhabhi" is leading the party with great strength and restraint. He wrote that state president Sunil Tatkare and national working president Praful Patel are giving her strong support. Kamble said that under the guidance of the senior leadership, he too has been working in Mumbai with equal strength.

On the appointment of the Mumbai president, Kamble wrote in the post that he fully understands that while running the party, Bhabhi often has to take harsh decisions that go against her own wishes. He wrote that he respects her decision from the heart. But after much thought, he has decided to be relieved of the responsibility of Mumbai working president.

According to Kamble, he tried to discharge, with honesty and loyalty and with body, mind and money, the responsibility given to him by Ajit Dada and state president and MP Sunil Tatkare over the past two and a half years. He also wrote in the post that whether or not he holds a post, he will continue to work as a loyal party worker under the guidance of Sunetra Bhabhi and Sunil Tatkare.