In the bustling arena of the Bihar elections, one name has sparked considerable discussion: Osama Shahab. He is the son of the late Mohammad Shahabuddin, a powerful figure once known as a don-turned-politician who commanded fear and respect across Siwan, Gopalganj, and Saran districts.
However, Osama, at 31, presents a stark contrast to his father. With a calm demeanor, often sporting uncombed hair and an untrimmed beard, he is notably reticent. He prefers to keep to himself, even amidst the demands of campaigning, and is not one for extensive public speaking.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has chosen Osama Shahab as their candidate for the Raghunathpur Assembly constituency, a significant move replacing the sitting MLA, Harishankar Yadav. Interestingly, during campaigns, it’s often Harishankar Yadav and Awadh Bihari Choudhary, the RJD candidate from Siwan, who do most of the talking, always by Osama’s side.
Osama maintains a cautious distance from the media. According to Farhan Khan, a supporter in Hussainganj, Osama avoids journalists to prevent misrepresentation of his statements. “He doesn’t want to get entangled in more controversies, as his life has already been full of them,” Khan explained.
Contesting elections for the first time, Osama faces the daunting task of overcoming his father’s controversial legacy. Yet, he is making a concerted effort to engage with the local populace. Though he shies away from addressing large crowds, he connects with people by shaking hands and mingling personally, and his efforts are being met with a warm reception.
A rare public address occurred two days prior when RJD leader and INDIA bloc chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav unexpectedly called upon Osama to speak at a rally in Raghunathpur. Initially, Osama appeared startled, glancing at Yadav before composing himself. He then spoke in Bhojpuri, urging people to vote for the INDIA bloc to ensure Yadav becomes Chief Minister and addressing the pervasive corruption at the block level. He briefly stumbled, mentioning the poor earning ‘₹10,000 every day,’ which drew laughter, but quickly corrected himself to ‘every month’ before concluding his minute-long speech.
In Sonbarsa, villagers honored him by weighing him with 119 kg of apples. Osama later expressed his gratitude on social media, describing the moment as deeply emotional and inspiring. He viewed it not just as an honor, but as a testament to the people’s unwavering faith, warm affection, and collective desire for change.
While Osama represents hope for the younger generation, the older residents vividly recall Siwan’s past, when it was synonymous with Shahabuddin’s ‘reign of terror.’ The BJP has seized on this, with Union Ministers Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda criticizing the RJD’s decision to field Osama, equating it to a return to ‘jungle raj.’ Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath echoed these sentiments at a Siwan rally last week, warning against a ‘khandani mafia’ (mafia family) attempting to regain influence.
However, some voters remain unfazed by the Shahabuddin name. Mohammad Shadab, a resident of Firozpur village, asserted, “We don’t care what others say about Osama. Shahabuddin belongs to the past, and Osama is our present. People might label his father a criminal, but he genuinely helped countless needy and poor individuals, regardless of their caste or religion.”
Osama Shahab, who currently faces two criminal cases, is challenged by Vikas Kumar Singh, also known as Jishu Singh, the Janata Dal (United) candidate and a close aide to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Singh’s campaign strategy heavily focuses on reminding voters of the fear that once gripped Siwan.
The Raghunathpur Assembly constituency is predominantly Muslim and Yadav, but also has a significant presence of Rajputs and other upper castes. This demographic mix sets the stage for a compelling contest between the backward and forward communities. Pratappur, Shahabuddin’s ancestral village, falls within this constituency and is home to a large Rajput population.
“I don’t believe it’s fair to compare Shahabuddin with his son. Osama has always maintained a low profile in Siwan and has rarely been seen up close before now,” remarked Manish Kumar Singh, another resident of Pratappur.
Shahabuddin shared a strong bond with Lalu Prasad’s family, becoming a pivotal leader in the MY (Muslim-Yadav) equation that propelled Mr. Prasad to power in Bihar for 15 years. Following Shahabuddin’s death in 2021, the RJD distanced itself from his family. His wife, Hena Shahab, made four unsuccessful attempts at the Lok Sabha election, three times as an RJD candidate and once as an Independent.
The former four-time parliamentarian, Shahabuddin, passed away in May 2021 while serving a life sentence in Tihar jail for a double murder conviction, during the Covid-19 pandemic.