Siwan, Bihar: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy on Tuesday while addressing a political rally in Raghunathpur, a constituency in Bihar’s Siwan district, by linking the RJD candidate Osama Shahab, son of the late former MP Mohd Shahabuddin, to terrorism and declaring that his victory would constitute a “defeat for Hindus.” Osama Shahab is making his political debut in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, and Sarma’s remarks came as part of a broader campaign speech aimed at rallying support for the NDA and its ally JD(U).

During his address, Sarma drew attention to the candidate’s first name, Osama, and made a provocative comparison with Osama Bin Laden, the infamous terrorist leader of Al-Qaeda. “When I was coming to Raghunathpur, I was thrilled as the name evoked memories of Lord Ram and Sita. But I learnt that there is also an Osama here,” Sarma said. He went on to recount the criminal record of Osama Shahab’s father, Mohd Shahabuddin, alleging that Shahabuddin “created a record in committing murders” and suggesting that his son might have grown up “playing with AK-47 rifles instead of toys.”

Sarma emphasized the stakes of the election in starkly communal terms. “If such an Osama wins from Raghunathpur, it will be a defeat for Hindus. I shall myself be watching the results of this constituency on November 14, sitting at the gates of Kamakhya temple in Assam. I am confident that the people will reject Osama just as they had defeated his mother, Hina Shahab, in the Lok Sabha elections,” he added, referencing the widow of Shahabuddin who had contested as an Independent candidate.

The Assam Chief Minister also used the platform to highlight his record as a BJP leader in his home state, particularly emphasizing his measures against what he termed “infiltrators” and the Muslim population in Assam. He claimed that when he assumed office, bureaucrats informed him that infiltrators were in possession of one lakh acres of land, of which he asserted that the state government successfully reclaimed 50,000 acres. Sarma additionally criticized the Congress party for allegedly funding Madrasas in Assam, stating, “The government is supposed to train doctors and engineers, not mullahs.”

In his address, Sarma outlined plans for further legislation, claiming he would introduce a law later in the month to imprison those who marry multiple times, labeling it a measure to “shut down this shop.” These statements drew loud applause from the crowd, highlighting the resonance of Sarma’s hardline rhetoric with his supporters.

On the Bihar elections, Sarma urged voters to support the Nitish Kumar-led government, advocating for the continuation of the NDA’s administration in the state and positioning the RJD’s Osama Shahab and Tejashwi Yadav as a threatening duo to be kept out of power. He expressed confidence in an NDA victory, attributing it to a nationwide awakening among Hindus since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office. Sarma referred to the Ayodhya Ram Temple as a symbol of this political awakening, asserting, “Awakened Hindus defeated the legacy of Babur and Aurangzeb in Ayodhya, and they will again beat Osama.”

Sarma also criticized the opposition’s stance on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that they were attempting to protect infiltrators and undermine the voter verification exercise. His comments sought to link the SIR to broader concerns about illegal immigration and electoral integrity, themes that the BJP has repeatedly emphasized in election campaigns across the country.

The rally in Raghunathpur was marked by strong communal and political overtones, reflecting the BJP’s strategy to frame the upcoming Bihar assembly elections as a contest not only of governance but also of identity politics. The remarks concerning Osama Shahab, in particular, are likely to fuel further debate and controversy in the state, given the sensitive nature of caste, religion, and political affiliations in Bihar.

The Raghunathpur constituency is significant because it has a history of political competition and voter mobilization, with the Shahabuddin family being a longstanding presence in local politics. The entry of his son, Osama Shahab, into electoral politics represents both a continuity of the family’s influence and a potential flashpoint in an election already marked by heightened communal rhetoric and polarization.

As the Bihar assembly polls approach, political observers note that the use of charged language and personal attacks, such as those employed by Sarma, could shape voter perceptions, influence turnout, and impact the broader narrative of the election. The RJD, on its part, has yet to issue a formal response to Sarma’s statements, but the remarks are expected to become a focal point of campaign discourse in the coming days.