Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (October 17, 2025) criticised the Opposition in Bihar for giving Assembly election ticket to Osama Shahab, son of don-turned-politician late Mohammad Shahabuddin who once ruled Siwan during the RJD’s rule of 15 years (1990-2005).
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is fielding Mr. Shahab from Raghunathpur Assembly constituency in Siwan district, against ruling Janata Dal (United) candidate Vikas Kumar Singh alias Jishu Singh.
“The people of Bihar should remain vigilant as Shahabuddin’s son’s name is on the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s list. If the RJD still gives a ticket to Shahabuddin’s son, can Bihar remain safe? To keep Bihar safe, the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will have to be brought back,” Mr. Shah said while addressing a rally at Narayanpur Sports Ground in Taraiya.
He was there to campaign in support of BJP candidates Janak Singh and Krishna Kumar Mantu from Taraiya and Amnour Assembly constituencies respectively in Saran district.
Praising the land of Saran, Mr. Shah said he chose the district to start the campaign as when a campaign begins from Saran, then only victory awaits ahead.
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‘Jungle raj’
Mr. Shah further said that 20 years ago, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fought against Lalu’s jungle raj and even today they are fighting against the jungle raj mentality.
“In his tenure of 20 years [as Chief Minister], Nitish Kumarji has freed Bihar from the jungle raj and the NarendraModiji government has also been there for 11 years. They have brought development in Bihar,” Mr. Shah said.
He said the people of Chhapra division want development, not jungle raj, claiming that the company of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cannot deliver development.
“The people of Bihar should trust the NDA. Narendra Modiji has resolved to make Bihar a developed State, and only the NDA government can accomplish this. The NDA is set to form the government in Bihar with the largest majority in the past 20 years and we will not allow jungle raj to return in Bihar,” Mr. Shah said.
He said the people of Bihar should vote for the NDA and ensure its victory with a huge majority.
Mr. Shah also stressed that the NDA is contesting the election in Bihar under the leadership of Mr. Nitish Kumar, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the country.
He expressed that to ensure that jungle raj never returns to Bihar, it is important to remind the youth of the State about the Lalu-Rabri regime of 20 years.
“The very same Bihar, which under Lalu Prasad’s jungle raj was plagued by an industry of kidnappings, ransom, murders, and mass exodus, now exports locomotives from the Marhaura Rail Engine Factory to countries in Africa,” Mr. Shah said.
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‘Dynasty politics’
After Saran, Mr. Shah took part in the Intellectuals Conference organised at Gyan Bhavan in Patna where he blamed the RJD and the Congress for nepotism.
“Whether it is the Congress or the RJD, they do dynasty politics. They have no concern how much potential any youth in Bihar has. After Laluji, the RJD president will be his son; and after him, Tejashwi’s son will take over—and entire Bihar knows this. It is the same in the Congress too: first Nehruji, then Indira Gandhi, then Rajiv Gandhi, then Sonia Gandhi, and now Rahul Gandhi,” Mr. Shah said.
Lashing out at the Opposition, he alleged that in the 15 years of jungle rule, Bihar lost its pride, wealth, and knowledge.
He also supported the Election Commission’s initiative for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State.
“Not only in Bihar, infiltrators will be removed from the voter lists across the country. The BJP’s clear policy is that India is not a dharamshala. Not a single infiltrator will be able to stay here. Rahul Baba, take out whatever yatra you want to, but as long as there is even one BJP MP, we will not let the infiltrators live here peacefully,” Mr. Shah said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Shah met Mr. Kumar at his official residence along with other leaders of the Bihar BJP, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur also campaigned for BJP candidates.
Published – October 17, 2025 03:41 pm IST