Patna: Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP chief Samrat Choudhary has drawn a distinction between jailed JD(U) candidate Anant Singh and late former MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, whose son has been fielded by the RJD within the Bihar meeting elections, calling the deceased chief a “nationwide felony” linked to worldwide syndicate. 

Shahabuddin, a bahubali and a contentious determine in Bihar politics, died at a Delhi hospital in 2021 resulting from Covid-related problems. Within the first meeting elections in Bihar since his demise, the RJD has fielded his son Osama Shahab from the Raghunathpur constituency in Siwan district.

He additional stated whereas anybody could possibly be despatched to jail on the suspicion of committing a criminal offense, solely these convicted are criminals. “Anybody can go to jail. Lalu ji additionally went, Nitish ji additionally went. I additionally went to jail. It isn’t a criminal offense to go to jail. The crime is, who’s convicted. Lalu ji is convicted. That’s the reason it’s stated, he’s a convicted felony. Lalu ji was accused of theft. He’s a thief. That is proof. Within the decrease courtroom, excessive courtroom, Supreme Court docket,” he additional stated. 

Anant Singh and Shahabuddin have a historical past of alleged felony actions and a robust caste-based assist base. Although by no means in a direct rivalry, they’re typically seen as parallel figures representing completely different political and social dynamics within the state’s political panorama.

Anant Singh was arrested by the Bihar Police on 1 October over expenses of homicide of native strongman Dular Chand Yadav who was canvassing for Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. His arrest got here simply 5 days earlier than the primary section of polling.

Singh, who comes from the Bhumihar neighborhood, has been a member of the ruling JD(U). He faces greater than 50 instances, however has contested and received a number of elections. 

Alternatively, Shahabuddin had greater than 45 instances towards him—from kidnapping to homicide and extortion. He was convicted and sentenced for all times within the case of homicide of two Siwan residents for refusing to pay extortion. 

His identify was additionally linked with the 1997 homicide of CPI(ML) activist and former JNU College students’ Union president Chandrashekhar in Siwan. On the time, the Left occasion had accused Shahabuddin of being concerned within the homicide, however the strongman was not named within the chargesheet. 4 males had been convicted within the case in 2012.

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Additionally Learn: ‘Congress’ fault; Nepal would’ve been at peace if it had been in India’—Bihar dy CM Samrat Chaudhary

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‘Nitish will proceed to be CM’

Asserting that the NDA will return to energy in Bihar, Choudhary stated they’ve promised to supply 1 crore jobs and this might be achieved, “not like the tall guarantees of the Mahagathbandhan”. 

The RJD and its allies, together with the Congress and the CPI (ML), have made employment a central theme of their marketing campaign, whereas additionally concentrating on the NDA for “not doing sufficient” for the youth of Bihar.

Of their manifesto, the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan has promised to cross a legislation inside 20 days of forming a authorities to supply a authorities job to at least one member of each household within the state. 

With the opposition claiming that the BJP is not going to make Nitish Kumar the chief minister once more, Choudhary stated there isn’t a emptiness for the chief minister’s publish within the state.

“Look, there isn’t a emptiness, so the query of filling the emptiness doesn’t come up. The shape must be stuffed solely when there’s a emptiness. Nitish ji is there, Nitish ji might be there, and can proceed to be there,” he added. 

Choudhary stated Mahagathbandhan has made guarantees as a result of it is aware of it is not going to should fulfil them because the NDA will come to energy. He stated the NDA, not like the Mahagathbandhan, believes in implementing its guarantees. 

Chaodhary stated that from 1990 to 2005, 94,000 individuals obtained authorities jobs in Bihar. From 2005 to 2025, 18.5 lakh individuals obtained authorities jobs beneath the Nitish Kumar authorities.

“Final time, our dedication was offering 10 lakh authorities jobs… 10 lakh employment alternatives. Now we have already given 52 lakh jobs. This time, our dedication is 1 crore. And I wish to guarantee the people who after we had set a goal of 20 lakh, we gave 52 lakh. If now we have set the goal of 1 crore, we are going to cross 1 crore for positive,” he stated. 

The BJP chief additional stated that whereas a whole lot of improvement has taken place beneath Nitish Kumar, the large hole that was created throughout the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav will take a while to fill. 

“Aside from Shri babu, nobody previously labored for Bihar. Karpoori ji began, however his tenure was very quick. From Shri babu to the Lalu Prasad administration, improvement in Bihar got here to a halt. Lalu ji took Bihar backwards. At this time, it’s shifting ahead,” he added. 

Requested concerning the situation of migration, he stated the size has come down significantly as individuals now don’t migrate for fundamental facilities. 

“Individuals don’t have to return to the town out of worry. Individuals are at residence. There may be electrical energy, water and roads. They usually don’t should go to Bombay, Delhi, or Patna for fundamental facilities. They should go if they need a superb job and so on however not for fundamental facilities,” he stated.

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)

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Additionally Learn: ‘Lalu gave reservation solely to Rabri, Modi fulfilled Sonia’s dream’ — Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary

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