Patna, Nov 14 (NationPress) Osama Shahab, the candidate from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and offspring of the late Siwan MP and infamous strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin, has claimed an early lead in the Raghunathpur Assembly constituency, as per preliminary results disclosed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

As reported by the ECI at 1:00 p.m., Osama is leading with over 32,000 votes, maintaining a margin of 9,236 votes against JD(U) contestant Vikash Kumar Singh.

This election marks the first Assembly contest in Bihar following the passing of Mohammad Shahabuddin, a controversial figure who transitioned from a gangster to a politician and was convicted in multiple criminal cases, including a double murder. He died in 2021 due to complications from Covid-19.

Shahabuddin, who represented Siwan in the Lok Sabha for four terms, was prohibited from running for office post-conviction; however, his political sway remained a potent force in Siwan.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, his wife Heena Shahab stood as an Independent candidate from Siwan after being refused an RJD ticket, but she was ultimately defeated by JD(U)'s Vijaylakshmi Devi.

Both Heena and Osama later joined the RJD ahead of the Assembly elections.

The ruling NDA sharply criticized the RJD for endorsing Osama, alleging that the party was fostering criminal elements within Bihar's political landscape and attempting to revert to a state of jungle raj.

As of now, the NDA is leading in 196 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan follows with 40.

The counting process for all 243 Assembly seats began at 8 a.m., starting with postal ballot verification, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes from 8:30 a.m., under high-security measures statewide.

Candidates from both coalitions expressed confidence in their respective performances, with NDA leaders asserting that the public of Bihar had shown trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promises and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's developmental efforts.

The Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD, claimed that Bihar had opted for change, expressing hope that Tejashwi Yadav would be the next chief minister.

The elections saw participation from over 70 crore voters who cast their votes to determine the fate of both the ruling NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The polling process took place in two phases on November 6 and 11.

In the outgoing Assembly, the NDA holds 131 seats, including 80 from BJP, 45 from JD(U), four from HAM(S), and two Independents. The opposition bloc comprises 111 seats, with RJD holding 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) two, and CPI two.