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News India Live, Digital Desk: There are some seats in Bihar politics which fight not just for elections but for ‘identity’ and ‘supremacy’. siwan There is one such seat, whose name used to be mentioned by the face of only one person – Marhoom. Mohammad ShahabuddinShahabuddin remained another name in the politics of Siwan for decades, and his influence was such that victory or defeat could be decided on his single gesture.
But now, without Shahabuddin, the politics of Siwan is at a major crossroads. And at the center of this intersection are his sons Osama Shahabwho is trying hard to carry on his father’s legacy. The 2025 assembly elections are near and the biggest question is whether Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Tejashwi Yadav will bet on this ‘successor’ of Shahabuddin?
‘Compulsion’, ‘necessary’ for RJD
The entire fabric of Siwan’s politics is based on RJD’s traditional M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) equation But rests on. Shahabuddin was the biggest and strongest ‘icon’ of this equation, his hold especially among Muslim voters was unmatched.
- Inheritance Claim: Osama Shahab is constantly trying to show that he is the rightful owner of his father’s political legacy by being active in the area and participating in social programs.
- RJD’s dilemma: For RJD, this decision is like a ‘snake-ratchet’ situation.
- If RJD gives ticket to Osama, BJP and NDA will attack it by calling it ‘return of Jungle Raj’ and a symbol of ‘Bahubali politics’.
- And if RJD does not give ticket to Osama, a large Muslim vote bank owing allegiance to Shahabuddin may get angry. This vote bank can either shift towards some other candidate or get scattered, which will directly benefit the NDA.
Lessons from last elections
This fear is not unnecessary. Osama’s mother in the last Lok Sabha elections, Heena Shahab Had contested the elections as an independent candidate. Although he lost in that election, he proved that the Shahabuddin family still has a dedicated vote bank of its own, which can stand with them even after breaking away from RJD. This vote distribution had paved the way for the victory of the NDA candidate.
NDA’s eyes are on the ‘opportunity’
The NDA alliance (BJP-JDU-LJP) is keeping a close eye on this entire situation. His entire strategy will be based on how to make a dent in RJD’s vote bank. If RJD fields Osama as its candidate, NDA will portray it as a return to the ‘horrible past’. And if it does not, then NDA can take advantage of this opportunity and try to woo the angry Muslim voters.
The 2025 election of Siwan will not be an election to elect just one MLA. This will be the litmus test of whether Shahabuddin’s legacy is still as strong, or whether the people of Siwan are now ready for ‘change’ by moving beyond that ‘past’. And the remote control of this entire game is somewhere in the hands of Tejashwi Yadav, whose decision will decide the next political future of Siwan.