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Naseemuddin Siddiqui Joins SP, Vows to Strengthen Party Under Akhilesh

Former Congress leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui has officially joined the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow. He expressed deep respect for SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, citing old relations, and vowed to work to strengthen the party organisation. Siddiqui resigned from Congress last month, stating he had no grassroots work for eight years and desired a more active organisational role. The joining ceremony also saw former BSP leader Anees Ahmad Khan and former Apna Dal leader S Raj Kumar Pal enter the Samajwadi Party.

Key Points: Ex-Congress Leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui Joins Samajwadi Party

  • Ex-Congress leader joins SP
  • Cites immense respect for Akhilesh Yadav
  • Wants grassroots organisational work
  • Left Congress citing lack of ground-level role
  • Joined alongside other former BSP, Apna Dal leaders
2 min read

Former Congress leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui joins Samajwadi Party, says respects Akhilesh Yadav "immensely"

Former Congress and BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui joins Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, citing respect for the SP chief and a desire for grassroots work.

"I have old relations with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. I respect him immensely. - Naseemuddin Siddiqui"

Lucknow, February 15

Former Congress leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Sunday joined the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party in Lucknow, expressing deep respect for the party chief and vowing to strengthen the organisation.

Siddiqui, who was earlier associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and had later resigned from the Congress, joined the Samajwadi Party in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav today.

Speaking to ANI before joining the party, Siddiqui said he had "old relations" with SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and that he would work under his guidance and "shoulder to shoulder" with other senior leaders to strengthen the organisation.

"I have old relations with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. I respect him immensely. We will follow his directions. Before me, there are many other senior leaders in the party. We have to strengthen the party by working shoulder to shoulder with them. If the party is strong, then we are strong; if we are strong, then the state is strong; and if the state is strong, then the society is strong," he said.

Along with Siddiqui, former BSP leader Anees Ahmad Khan and former Apna Dal state president S Raj Kumar Pal also joined the Samajwadi Party today.

Last month, former Uttar Pradesh Congress MLA Siddiqui resigned from all party positions, citing an inability to work at the grassroots level for the past eight years.

Speaking to ANI, Siddiqui said he respects Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, and other senior party leaders, adding that he wants to work at the grassroots level, which is why he quit the party.

"I have no resentment towards anyone. I respect Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Priyanka ji, Sonia ji, and I will continue to respect them. There was no work for me there. I am a grassroots-level person. For eight years, I couldn't work at the ground level. I have never been a high-profile leader, nor am I now, so I want to work at the ground level; that's why I left the Congress party," he said.

"Making someone the chairman of the media department is not grassroots-level work. Making someone a member of a committee is not grassroots-level work...I told the leaders that I am a man of the organisation. Now, there are many things which cannot be said," Siddiqui added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
If he truly wanted to work at the grassroots, he could have done so in Congress itself. Joining SP just before elections shows the real motive. Voters are not fools.
A
Akhilesh Yadav
Welcome to the Samajwadi Party, Naseemuddin Siddiqui ji! Your experience will strengthen our fight for social justice and development in Uttar Pradesh. Together for a stronger UP! 💪
P
Priya S
Respectfully, this constant switching undermines political ideology. A leader should stand for principles, not just positions. It creates cynicism among the public.
V
Vikram M
From BSP to Congress to SP... what's next? This is the problem with our politics. No loyalty, only opportunism. The "grassroots" reason sounds like an excuse.
K
Karthik V
Strategically a good move for SP to get an experienced leader before the big elections. UP politics is all about alliances and caste equations now.
M
Meera T
At least he is being polite and respectful to his former colleagues. That's rare in our bitter political climate. Hope he does actual ground work now.

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