#BiharPolls: Osama Shahab Contests Bihar Seat Amid Father’s Controversial Legacy
Osama Shahab contests the Raghunathpur seat; his father Mohammad Shahabuddin’s notorious legacy still influences Bihar voters.
In the Raghunathpur constituency, Siwan district, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Osama Shahab, son of the late strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin, is contesting the November 6, 2025, Bihar assembly election. The 31-year-old London-educated lawyer relies heavily on his father’s legacy rather than campaign rhetoric, facing Janata Dal (United)’s Vikas Kumar Singh and Jan Suraaj Party’s Rahul Kirti in a key triangular fight. The seat, dominated by Muslim and Yadav voters but diverse in caste composition, tests the Opposition’s MY consolidation strategy against NDA accusations of reviving “jungle raj.”
Mohammad Shahabuddin, a four-term MP (1996–2004), was convicted in multiple cases, including murder, and died in 2021 from COVID-19 complications. Known for both development initiatives and instilling fear, his influence endures. The RJD, distancing itself earlier, now fields Osama—replacing sitting MLA Hari Shankar Yadav—capitalizing on residual support, especially after his mother Hena Shahab’s strong independent showing in the 2024 Siwan Lok Sabha polls.
The NDA has aggressively targeted Osama’s candidacy, with leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma framing it as a mafia resurgence. Osama, facing two land dispute cases, emphasizes development and his father’s anti-extremist record. While young supporters chant “Saheb zindabad,” older voters credit Nitish Kumar’s governance for improved law and order, signaling a shift from fear-based loyalty.
Results on November 14 will indicate whether dynastic appeal outweighs reformist momentum. The RJD held the seat in 2015 and 2020 with margins of 10,622 and 17,965 votes, respectively. With 53.52% turnout in 2020, Raghunathpur remains a barometer of Bihar’s evolving political landscape amid debates over criminality in politics.
