Siwan voters fear return of Lalu Prasad in Bihar as Mohammad Shahabuddin awaits achche din

Patna, Nov 1: Tense atmosphere in the polling region of Siwan indicates why the voters of Bihar fear the return of jungle raj. The Mahagathbandhan contesting against the BJP-led National Democrat

Edited By: Mohammed Uzair Shaikh

Published: November 1, 2015, 11:02 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/siwan-voters-fear-return-of-lalu-prasad-in-bihar-as-mohammad-shahabuddin-awaits-achche-din-672817/ Copy

Patna, Nov 1: Tense atmosphere in the polling region of Siwan indicates why the voters of Bihar fear the return of jungle raj. The Mahagathbandhan contesting against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has a ‘hero-like’ figure Nitish Kumar as its chief ministerial candidate but also involves Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is termed as the symbol of misgovernance by political opponents. Though, there is negligible amount of anti-incumbency factor against Nitish, but by aligning himself with Lalu, the Bihar chief minister has disappointed a considerable section of electorates.

The district of Siwan which includes 7 assembly segments will go to poll in the fourth phase of elections. The electorates of the region could recall the reign of terror spread by criminal-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin who was the face of Lalu’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the region. For the voters, it is not an easy choice, since they also remember the valour shown by Nitish Kumar in 2005, who got the strongman arrested upon coming to power and brought development in the region. However, they are left with a dilemma of being forced to reject Nitish, since Lalu who will be a part of the government when Mahagathbandhan comes to power, will leave no stone unturned to get his close aide Shahabuddin released from jail.

(ALSO READ: Bihar Polls 2015: Has Vikas Purush Nitish Kumar committed political suicide by joining hands with Lalu Prasad?)

Shahabuddin, a dreaded criminal who is facing accusations of more than a dozen murders, apart from kidnapping and running extortion rackets, became part of the establishment in 1990 when he got elected from Janata Dal ticket. Subsequently, in 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004, he got himself re-elected on RJD ticket. In the region of Siwan, the Indian penal code was replaced ‘Shahabuddin law’. All political opponents were either eliminated or left in a brutal condition by his goons.

Give a free-hand from the then chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Shahabuddin did not hesitate from terrorizing each and every household in the region. Any form of disobedience would be dealt in a fierce manner. Two brothers, Girish Raj and Satish Raj who tried to file a police complaint against him were given a acid bath by his men for trying to approach the law. The duo subsequently died.

Prominent CPI (Marxist-Leninist) leader Chhote Lal Gupta, who posed a tough challenge to Shahabuddin in 1999, was abducted and subsequently killed.

Businessmen and traders in the region started fleeing the area after being harassed by the Shahabuddin’s gang who regularly demanded protection tax from them.

It was only in 2005, when Nitish ousted the jungle raj of Lalu, conditions began getting normalized in the region of Siwan. Reign of terror was replaced by rule of law. Chaotic traffic occupied the region which was once being deserted due to the presence of extortionists running the law.

Shahabuddin was disqualified in 2009 from entering the poll fray after he was convicted for kidnapping and murdering CPI(M-L) leader Chhote Lal Gupta. Trial in more than 4 dozen cases are pending against him. His conviction has been challenged by his legal counsel in the High Court. On the polling day, each and every responsible voter in Siwan is questioning himself: ‘What if my mandate to Nitish will amount to the return of Shahabuddin having close links to Lalu?’