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New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), alleging that the party has once again turned to “baahubal” or muscle power by nominating Osama Shahab, son of the late gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, from Siwan’s Raghunathpur constituency.
At an election rally, BJP president and Union minister Jagat Prakash Nadda accused the RJD of attempting to revive Bihar’s “jungle raj,” a term often used to describe the lawlessness and criminal dominance during the Lalu Prasad Yadav–Rabri Devi administrations.
“RJD nominated late gangster Shahabuddin's son, which shows it wants to bring back jungle raj in Bihar,” Nadda said, reminding voters of the years between 1990 and 2005 when the RJD ruled the state.
“From 1990 to 2005, the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi was a dark era for Bihar, it suffered every kind of loss during that time. It endured every kind of humiliation... But under the leadership of Nitish Kumar for 20 years and 11 years of PM Modi, it has seen its development train back on track,” he added.
Nadda urged voters to support the NDA alliance in the upcoming assembly elections. “When you cast your vote on the 6th of November, I want to request that this vote is not just for BJP candidates... It’s a vote to provide stability to Bihar under Nitish Kumar’s leadership and to accelerate development to new heights.”
The row erupted after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav personally handed over the party symbol to Osama Shahab, who is set to make his political debut from Raghunathpur, a seat currently held by RJD’s Hari Shankar Yadav. The BJP–JD(U)-led NDA has criticised the move as evidence that the opposition is reverting to its old political style.
Bihar will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14.
