North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: Bihar politics is always known for its unexpected moves and big decisions. This time, just before the assembly elections, such a big and shocking news has come out, which has created a stir not only in Siwan but in the politics of entire Bihar. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has handed over the party symbol (ticket) from Raghunathpur assembly seat to Osama Shahab, son of Siwan’s late and powerful leader Mohammad Shahabuddin. This decision of Lalu Yadav is being considered a very big and strategic move, especially at a time when Tejashwi Yadav was being accused of sidelining the Muslim leadership. Speculations about Osama Shahab entering politics and contesting elections were going on for a long time, which has now come to an end.
How was Osama’s claim on Raghunathpur seat decided?
Late Mohammad Shahabuddin has always had unilateral influence in the Siwan area, and his family is considered to have deep influence among the people of that area. Osama’s mother Hina Shahab had been promoting her son’s political future and claiming this seat for a long time. According to information received from sources, Hina Shahab herself met Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav and proposed for Osama to contest from Raghunathpur seat, which she described as her family and traditional seat. Now this decision of Lalu Yadav has formally taken it forward, giving a new dimension to ‘Shahabuddin’s political legacy’.
Current MLA also supported Osama
Another interesting aspect of this news is that RJD’s current MLA from Raghunathpur assembly seat, Harishankar Yadav, has announced to leave the seat in support of Osama Shahab. Harishankar Yadav had won the election from this seat twice on RJD ticket and this seat is currently in the possession of RJD. His sacrifice and respect for the party’s decision have further increased the political turmoil in Siwan. With this, a new equation seems to be forming in the ‘politics of Siwan’, where coordination has been established between new and old faces.
Who is Osama Shahab? New hope for young faces
Osama Shahab is a resident of Siwan and his early education was also done there. Later he passed 12th examination from GD Goenka School, Delhi and went to London for higher education, from where he completed LLB. After marrying Ayesha from Siwan in the year 2021, Osama is actively seen in the politics of Bihar. His entry into politics has infused a new energy and enthusiasm among the youth, which can become an example for the future ‘young leaders of Bihar’.
This decision has come at such a sensitive time when just a few days ago, another senior RJD leader, former MP Maulana Akhlaq Ahmed Shahbuddin (he should be considered different from former RJD MP Maulana Shahbuddin) had made serious allegations against Tejashwi Yadav of sidelining the Muslim leadership. In such a situation, giving ticket to Osama Shahab from Raghunathpur is being considered as a strategic step to strengthen ‘Lalu Yadav’s M-Y equation’ and to refute these allegations. This is also a part of RJD’s deliberate move in the preparations for ‘Bihar Assembly Elections 2025’.
