The political landscape of Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a significant realignment as Naseemuddin Siddiqui, a former heavyweight of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a senior Congress leader, officially joined the Samajwadi Party (SP). The induction took place at the Samajwadi Party headquarters in Lucknow in the presence of party president Akhilesh Yadav. Siddiqui, who served as a provincial president in the Congress, was joined by several other prominent political figures. These include former MLA Rajkumar Pal from Apna Dal (Sonelal), former minister Anees Ahmed alias Phool Babu, former MLA Dinanath Kushwaha, and Dr. Danish Khan, a former candidate from AIMIM and Congress, while this mass induction is seen as a strategic move by the Samajwadi Party to consolidate its influence across various demographic segments ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Membership Ceremony Held in Lucknow
The joining ceremony was marked by a large gathering of party workers and supporters. Welcoming the new members, Akhilesh Yadav stated that the arrival of leaders from diverse political backgrounds indicates a growing public sentiment in favor of the Samajwadi Party. Among the notable inductees, Anees Ahmed Khan, popularly known as Phool Babu, brings significant experience as a three-time MLA from Pilibhit and a former minister in the Mayawati administration. The inclusion of Rajkumar Pal from Apna Dal (S) and Dr, while danish Khan is expected to bolster the party's outreach in specific regional pockets. The Samajwadi Party leadership emphasized that these inductions would strengthen the party's organizational structure and its connect with the grassroots level.
Verbal Gaffes During the Induction Speech
An unusual series of events occurred during the induction ceremony when some of the newly joined leaders had a slip of the tongue during their addresses. Anees Ahmed, while delivering his speech in front of Akhilesh Yadav, repeatedly mentioned the Bahujan Samaj Party instead of the Samajwadi Party. He remarked that only the BSP could defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party, before quickly realizing his mistake and correcting it to the Samajwadi Party. Similarly, Naseemuddin Siddiqui also made a brief error at the beginning of his speech by referring to the leaders joining the BSP. These verbal slips were immediately rectified by the leaders, but they became a point of discussion among the attendees at the event.
Reasons Behind Resignation from Congress
Naseemuddin Siddiqui had tendered his resignation from the Congress party on 24 January. His departure followed a reported incident at the Lucknow airport during Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state. According to reports, Siddiqui had gone to the airport to receive Rahul Gandhi, who was en route to Raebareli. However, Siddiqui was allegedly denied entry into the airport premises and had to return without meeting the senior Congress leader. This incident reportedly caused significant discontent for Siddiqui, who felt overlooked despite his senior position as a provincial president. Shortly after this event, he decided to end his association with the Congress party and explore new political avenues.
Siddiqui’s Political Stature During BSP Era
Naseemuddin Siddiqui was once considered the most powerful Muslim face of the Bahujan Samaj Party, while his association with the party dates back to the era of its founder, Kanshi Ram, and he was known to be a close confidant of Mayawati. During Mayawati's four terms as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Siddiqui held key portfolios in the state cabinet, including Public Works Department (PWD) and Excise, while his political trajectory took a turn in 2017 when he was expelled from the BSP following the party's performance in the assembly elections. In 2018, he joined the Congress party, where he served until his recent resignation. His move to the Samajwadi Party is now being viewed as a significant development in the state's political dynamics.