Nitish Kumar’s Samriddhi Yatra in Siwan: Revisiting Old Grounds, Sending the Same Message

Siwan: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is currently in Siwan for the first phase of his Samriddhi Yatra. While the visit highlights developmental initiatives, it also carries a strong political message — one that harks back to past confrontations.

A flashback to 2015 recalls the release of former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and strongman Shahabuddin from Bhagalpur jail. At the time, journalists had asked Nitish Kumar about him, and Shahabuddin reportedly called Nitish a “circumstantial Chief Minister.” This statement soon brought Shahabuddin trouble; in 2016, the Bihar government approached the Supreme Court against his bail in the Rajeev Roshan murder case, leading to his return behind bars. Shahabuddin later passed away during treatment in Tihar Jail amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nitish Kumar’s decision to include Siwan in the Samriddhi Yatra is symbolic. Once considered Shahabuddin’s stronghold, Siwan was where Nitish first took a firm stance against lawlessness in the state. In November 2005, shortly after Nitish Kumar assumed office with an NDA majority, a special Bihar police team arrested Shahabuddin from Delhi, marking the beginning of a crackdown on mafia influence in the state. The images of Shahabuddin being brought to Patna in an armored white vehicle remain etched in public memory, emphasizing Nitish’s commitment to law and order in Bihar — a state that had long struggled with lawlessness before 2005.

The political landscape in Siwan has evolved since then. Shahabuddin’s son, Osama Shahab, is now an RJD MLA from Raghunathpur. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, while the NDA won 7 out of 8 seats in Siwan district, Osama Shahab broke the NDA’s clean sweep by securing his seat. Compared to 2020, when NDA had won only 2 seats, this reflects significant gains; yet the enduring influence of Shahabuddin’s supporters is still visible.

Nitish Kumar’s visit to Siwan during the Samriddhi Yatra sends a clear message: the lawlessness that plagued Bihar before 2005 remains a challenge for opposition forces, but development, justice, and good governance are the “Brahmastra” in Nitish’s campaign against political obstruction and the remnants of the old political strongmen.