Late gangster Mohammad Shahabuddin's son leads in Raghunathpur
What's the story
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Osama Shahab is leading in the Raghunathpur constituency of Siwan district, Bihar by 3,478 votes. The seat is witnessing a close contest between him and Janata Dal United's Vikash Kumar Singh. Shahab, the son of late gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, is trying to carry forward his father's political legacy.
Historical context
Raghunathpur has been an RJD bastion
Raghunathpur has been a bastion of the RJD. In 2020, Harishankar Yadav won from this seat with 67,757 votes. He had defeated Lok Janshakti Party's Manoj Kumar Sinha (49,792 votes) and JD(U)'s Rajeshwar Chauhan (26,162 votes). In 2015 too, Yadav had won with 61,042 votes against the BJP's Manoj Kumar Singh (50,420 votes).
Voter sentiment
Local issues at forefront
In this election, local issues and emotional connections have taken precedence over development agendas. Osama Shahab benefits from the political legacy of his late father, Shahabuddin, while also being seen as a youthful candidate representing a "fresh start." Residents have long expressed frustration over neglected roads, education, and employment opportunities.
Election details
About the constituency
Raghunathpur is one of the six assembly segments under the Siwan Parliament seat. It includes villages like Rajpur, Kausar, Murarpatti, Mathia, and Semaria, among others. The constituency saw a voter turnout of 51.18% during the first phase of the Bihar elections on November 6. The results for this key battleground will be declared soon as counting began at 8:00am on Friday, November 14.