MUMBAI: Baba Ziauddin Siddique popularly called Baba Siddique, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was a notable politician and a prominent figure in Maharashtra's political landscape. He was known for his grand iftar parties which were often seen as meeting grounds for the most influential icons in the city from businessmen to politicians and more importantly Bollywood celebrities. 

Starting his political journey as a teenager when he joined the Congress party through its student wing, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), throughout his political career of over 5 decades, Siddique was affiliated with Congress as the most prominent minority face of the Mumbai Congress starting as a corporator then representing the Bandra region, and served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Bandra West constituency, holding office for three consecutive terms in 1999, 2004, and 2009. 

In the 1980's he worked very closely with actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt who was a Member of Parliament for five terms from the constituency of Mumbai North West and also became the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government. Dutt's daughter, Congress leader Priya Dutt today shared on X that Siddique was like a son to her father, Sunil Dutt, and a brother and dear friend to her. She posted, “Today, I'm shaken to the by the news of Baba Siddique's tragic death, it has shocked me . Baba was more than a political associate; he was family."

Early in February this year, he resigned from the Congress and joined Ajit Pawar-led NCP as the second big exit of important leaders from Congress after Milind Deora son of Murli Deora who exited the party recently after his family's decades-old association with Congress and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. 

While resigning he posted on X saying, "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 @INCIndia with immediate effect." 

Siddique was known for his proximity to top Bollywood actors including the famous Khans, most particularly Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and at one time he was instrumental in patching the biggest feuds between the two. The infamous rift between the two Khans which had stemmed from a confrontation during Salman’s then-girlfriend Katrina Kaif's birthday party in 2008 had strained relationships between the two causing a verticle split in the industry that had affected filmmakers and fans.

Several film stars including Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty and Salman Khan, were among the others, who were seen visiting Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, where Siddique was admitted after the incident.

Baba Siddique was married to Shehzeen Siddique and had two children, Dr. Arshia Siddique and Zeeshan Siddique. His son, Zeeshan, is also a politician and was elected as a Congress MLA from Bandra East in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a state funeral for Siddique, reflecting the significant loss felt across the political spectrum.