BJP accepts K Annamalai’s resignation; speculation grows over future plans
The BJP's decision comes amid growing speculation around K Annamalai's political future, with supporters and rivals closely watching his next move in Tamil Nadu.
With the RJD fieldIng late gangster-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin’s son, Osama Shahabuddin, in the Bihar polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday wondered whether the eastern heartland would remain safe if the opposition party gave tickets to such candidates.
Notably, Shahabuddin had served as a four-time MP from Siwan, and was considered as the strong man of the district.
Shah said, “I have seen RJD – Rashtriya Janata Dal’s candidate list, and it contains the name of Shahabuddin’s son. Can Bihar remain safe if RJD gives the election ticket to Shahabuddin’s son?…” “Tell me, is Kashmir ours or not? Should Article 370 in J&K been removed or not? PM Modi abrogated Article 370 in J&K and connected Kashmir to the mainstream. Under Congress, terrorists used to play Holi with blood,” he added.
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While campaigning in Bihar’s Saran, Shah exuded confidence in NDA winning the state polls and added that the NDA is going to form the government in Bihar with the biggest majority.
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He added that Diwali would be celebrated on 14th November, on the day of the vote count, indicating that NDA would win the Assembly polls in Bihar. He stated that this time the people of Bihar are getting a chance to celebrate four Diwalis. He further said that the first Diwali will be celebrated on the day to mark the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya. The second Diwali was celebrated when Rs 10,000 was deposited in the accounts of women under the government scheme.
Lauding the slashing of GST rates by the Centre, he stated that the third Deepawali was celebrated when the GST rates on goods were reduced.
“When you start campaigning from Saran, we only see victory. There is no better place than Chhapra, Saran, to remind the youth of Bihar about that jungle raj of Lalu and Rabri and take a pledge to fight against it,” Shah said while slamming the erstwhile RJD rule in Bihar.
Notably, Mahagathbandhan including RJD has so far not released the seat-sharing pact with only weeks left for the Bihar polls.
Shahabuddin, the late strongman of Siwan, had maintained close ties with Lalu Yadav during his lifetime, but tensions erupted after his death in 2021, when no RJD leader attended his funeral. In August, Lalu reportedly met Shahabuddin’s wife, Heena Shahab, who sought his support to bring their son Osama into politics.
Heena Shahab, Shahabuddin’s wife, has struggled to replicate his electoral success in Siwan. Following Shahabuddin’s 2008 conviction on multiple criminal charges, she was disqualified from contesting and has repeatedly failed to win elections in the region. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Heena ran as an Independent from Siwan after being denied an RJD ticket, securing 2.93 lakh votes, while the seat went to Vijaylakshmi Devi of JD-U, who won 3.86 lakh votes.
After the 2024 elections, Heena and her son Osama rejoined the RJD, with Osama now preparing for his electoral debut.
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