Baba Siddique Biography: The journey of a Mumbai political patriarch

Widely known as Baba Siddique (his full name was Baba Ziauddin Siddique), he had been a colossus of Maharashtra’s political scene, recognized by his grassroots work and for his exuberant show on the socio-political stage in Mumbai. Patna, Bihar Rajesh Siddique was born on 13 September 1958 and worked tirelessly yet tragically succumbed to the virus on 12 October early evening in Mumbai His is a story of beginnings in lowly arena, passionate political activities and deep-rooted community links that impacted many.

Baba Siddique – Personal & Physical Details

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Baba Ziauddin Siddique
Popular Name	Baba Siddique
Date of Birth	13 September 1958
Place of Birth	Patna, Bihar, India
Date of Death	12 October 2024
Age (at death)	66 years
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Islam
Profession	Politician, Social Worker
Political Party	Indian National Congress (1977–2024), NCP (2024)

Physical Appearance

Attribute	Details
Height	Approx. 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm)
Weight	Approx. 75–80 kg
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black (later salt & pepper)
Skin Colour	Fair
Body Type	Average
Distinguishing Features	Broad face, confident posture

Family Details

Relation	Name
Father	Abdul Rahim Siddique
Mother	Razia Siddique
Wife	Shehzeen Siddique
Son	Zeeshan Siddique (MLA)
Daughter	Dr. Arshia Siddique

Political Career Snapshot

Detail	Information
MLA Constituency	Bandra West, Mumbai
Terms as MLA	1999, 2004, 2009
Ministerial Role	Minister of State (Food & Civil Supplies, Labour, Consumer Protection)
Other Position	Chairman, MHADA Mumbai Board

Early Life and Education

Personal life Baba Siddique was born Ziauddin Siddique to Abdul Rahim Siddique and Razia Siddique, in Patna. While his family had its base in Shekh Toli village of Gopalganj district, Bihar, he believed in dreaming big and working for the community.

Siddique studied at St. Anne’s High School, Mumbai and attended M. M. K. College Field Bindu is where the future of politics was ready for his mother to play and how it all changed because of one slap appealed or added in this scene Study There is nothing else.”. In college, Siddique and a friend ran a video cassette library, delivering movies to homes in their neighborhood to put themselves through school — which says much about his early hustle and resourcefulness.

 Baba Siddique Net Worth (Estimated)

Source	Net Worth/Assets	Notes
Election Affidavit (official declared assets)	~₹76 crore	Total assets declared when he filed for election; this is the legally reported figure.
Official Liabilities	~₹23 crore	Declared liabilities, which means his net worth after liabilities could be lower than total assets.
Media Estimate (some reports)	~₹30 crore	Some entertainment and lifestyle outlets estimate his overall wealth around this figure, considering lifestyle and visible assets.
Enforcement Directorate Property Seizures	₹462 crore (seized property)	In 2018, properties linked to him were seized on suspicion of money laundering – suggesting much larger property values than officially declared. This case later saw legal developments.

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Stepping into Politics: The Youth Congress Years

Siddique’s early political career — he joined the Indian National Congress as a teenager in 1977 for service to uplift communities.

Within years he was already fully into student and youth politics. While with the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Bandra Youth Congress, he served in various leadership capacities including:

• General Secretary of the Bandra Taluka Youth Congress (1980)
• The Bandra Taluka Youth Congress President (1982).
• President: Mumbai Youth Congress (1988)

These positions have enabled Siddique to create a powerful network of relations in the field and set the party afire among city’s youth.

Rise in Municipal and State Politics

Siddique was elected as a Municipal Councillor in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – a transition from youth politics to mainstream governance in 1992.

He worked for the development of City and Municipal corporation as solving urban city problems & local infrastructure development as well. It was during these years that Siddique forged close links with the people of Bandra residents and the neighbouring areas, which ensured his impressive success in electoral politics ever since.

MLA and Minister: Working for Maharashtra at the state level

Siddique’s first big win as an MLA was in 1999 when he won the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election by defeating his opponent from Bandra West.

He then won the seat in an impressive three consecutive terms:

• 1999 – First term as MLA
• 2004 – Re-elected
• 2009 – Third consecutive term

His conduct had the effect of securing him a share in the guidance of his party, and he was loaded with offices, such as:

Chairman of MHADA (Mumbai Board) (2000 to 2004)

Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies (FDA), Labour and Consumer Protection, Maharashtra Government(2004-2008) under Vilasrao Deshmukh.

In those roles, Siddique emphasized the need to enhance local services for citizens — particularly in regards to maintaining food security, worker rights and housing.

Political Ideals and Leadership Style

Grassroots Engagement

Contrary to most typical fits of a purely bureaucratic leader, Siddique could never distance himself away from the people of his area. On missiles And then after his public oratory was done came a lesson for Americans and everyone else, a sermon in the mountain. His political philosophy was built out of direct interaction — listening to citizens and bringing their concerns to state forums. Voters often considered him accessible, and dogged in his focus on civic concerns.

Inclusivity and Cultural Outreach

One of Siddique’s more celebrated contributions to the cultural landscape of Mumbai was his annual Iftar party that he held every Ramzan — a tradition that had become an institution in the city. For more than two decades, this event drew some of Indian’s biggest political foes, social activists and religious leaders as well Bollywood actors together under one roof, all in the spirit of coming together as a community.

These Iftar parties weren’t just about partying — they represented peace, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue in a city as mixed as Mumbai.

Relationships Beyond Politics

The connections Siddique had in Bollywood were well known. The industry’s biggest names would attend his Iftar gatherings, and he even brokered peace between celebrities on occasion a reconciliation between actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan at one of Suchetan’s events was widely discussed.

His cultural capital enabled Siddique to maintain a profile beyond mainstream politics and established his status as a well-known persona outside the corridors of Maharashtra’s legislature.

Turning Points: Party Change and Later Years

After decades in the Indian National Congress (from 1977 to 2024), Siddique made a dramatic shift in February 2024 — resigning from the party and joining the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

This move came amid internal party changes and increasing political challenges. Although his new political chapter was brief, it underscored changing dynamics in Maharashtra’s state politics and Siddique’s continued relevance in electoral strategy.

Personal Life and Family

Personal Life of Baba SiddiqueHis personal life was indicative of a sound family structure:

Wife: Shehzeen Siddique

Kids: Dr. Arshia Siddique (daughter) and Zeeshan Siddique (son)

His son Zeeshan Siddique also inherited his political legacy as an MLA from Vandre East and carried forward his father’s tradition of public service.

Siddique had a large circle of friends and allies on both sides of the political aisle as well as across different sectors — lawmakers, social workers, business leaders alike — that enabled him to work better not just for his own constituency, but for all of Mumbai.

Legacy and Contributions

Political Leadership

His nearly three-decade political career is testament to his electoral appeal and administrative acumen. Siddique not only served as an effective leader for Bandra West, but he also had posts which benefitted the common people of Maharashtra.

Community Building

His Iftaar parties, among other such events, brought out a side of Mumbai’s cultural life that helped people to discover their shared space in a cosmopolitan megalopolis. His openness to unifying different groups made him a powerful voice for unity.

Urban Development

In positions such as chairman of MHADA and member of the legislature, Siddique has worked on policy to do with housing, development, and infrastructure (especially in Bandra and surrounding areas), aspects of life that affect many people day to day.

Tragic End and Aftermath

Baba Siddique was shot dead by unidentified attackers as he emerged from the office of his son Zeeshan in Bandra East, Mumbai on 12 October 2024. He was taken to a hospital, where he died later that night. The city and the political establishment were rattled by the sudden onslaught.

The murder received widespread media attention and the subsequent investigation resulted in arrests connected to organized crime. The case also raised questions about politicians being hit by violent syndicates and complicated matters like the intersection of politics, crime and security.

After that, the legal process played out, with court rulings related to Thornell’s murder and public appeals for further investigation. The tragedy created a vacuum in the political space of Maharashtra and heartfelt condolences poured in from people all over India.

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