RJD leader Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav have chosen Osama Shahab, son of late MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, as their candidate from Raghunathpur, Siwan. The sitting MLA, Harishankar Yadav, vacates the seat for Shahabuddin’s son, showing his loyalty to the Shahabuddin family. Harishankar led RJD to victory in 2015 and 2020.
Osama’s father, Shahabuddin, known for his Robin Hood image, was a powerful but controversial politician who died in prison. His wife, Hina Shahab, had contested multiple elections but lost. In 2024, she ran as an independent and defeated JDU’s candidate by 93,000 votes.
The Grand Alliance (RJD, Congress, CPI, and CPI-ML) is still facing disagreements on seat sharing, though Tejashwi’s party has begun announcing candidates. Harishankar continues to support Shahabuddin’s family, maintaining their long-standing bond in Siwan politics.
