Patna, Dec 1 (NationPress) The inaugural session of the newly constituted 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly saw a number of newcomers taking their oaths. One standout was Osama Shahab, the offspring of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who made his political entry by clinching the Raghunathpur seat in Siwan on an RJD ticket.

Osama achieved a remarkable win in his debut election.

After 26 rounds of counting, he amassed 88,278 votes, surpassing JD(U) candidate Vikas Kumar Singh, who garnered 79,030 votes.

His victory margin stood at 9,248 votes, indicating a robust start to his political journey.

Analysts suggest that Osama's foremost challenge will be to transcend his father's controversial reputation and carve out his unique identity through initiatives focused on development, law enforcement, and public welfare in Siwan.

Another significant event occurred when Anita Mahato, the newly elected RJD MLA from Warisaliganj in Nawada and spouse of notorious Ashok Mahato, took her oath.

However, the Pro-tem Speaker interrupted her due to confusion over her reading.

Instead of reciting the official oath provided by the Assembly, Anita began reading her own handwritten version, where she referred to herself as a “daughter of the Bahujan community.”

The Speaker directed her to adhere strictly to the official oath, as required of all MLAs. Anita was subsequently instructed to retake the oath in the proper format.

All the newly elected representatives took their oaths on Monday, although some MLAs were absent and will be sworn in on Tuesday at 11 a.m., as announced by the Pro-tem Speaker before the session was adjourned.

Among the notable absentees was Anant Singh, the influential MLA from Mokama, currently imprisoned in Beur Jail.

He is anticipated to take his oath on Tuesday, likely after being granted parole.

Sources indicate that he may be permitted to attend the Assembly for four days.

Anant Singh was arrested during the election campaign in October following a clash in Patna’s Tal area, resulting in the death of Dularchand Yadav.

The victim’s family implicated Anant Singh in the FIR, leading to his immediate arrest. His bail request was denied by a lower court on November 20, prompting him to appeal to the High Court.

Despite his incarceration, Anant Singh’s political base remained strong. His supporters campaigned vigorously, securing a substantial victory over RJD candidate Veena Devi.

This marks the second occasion he has won an Assembly election from jail.

In 2020, he won while behind bars and was granted parole to take the oath.

However, he later lost his Assembly membership due to a court ruling in a separate matter.

Currently, no charge sheet has been filed against him, nor has he been sentenced, which enhances the likelihood of parole for the oath-taking process.

According to Article 188 of the Indian Constitution, an MLA must take an oath before the Governor or a designated officer as per the Third Schedule.

Typically, elected officials in jail are granted temporary bail or parole to undertake their oaths within the Assembly, after which they must return to custody.

Only in exceptional cases does an authorized officer visit the jail to administer the oath if parole is not granted.